By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP, for the December 7 Presidential election, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has explained what influenced his choice of the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, affectionately called NAPO, as his Running Mate.
Last Thursday, Dr. Bawumia presented to the National Executive Council for consideration, NAPO as his preferred Running Mate for the upcoming national election. By a unanimous decision, NAPO was accepted and approved by the Council thereby paving the way for Dr. Bawumia to formally introduce the Vice Presidential aspirant to the rank and file of the party and by extension the general voting population.
At the outdooring rally held at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi, capital of the NPP’s traditional stronghold of the Ashanti region on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Flagbearer of the party, who had the prerogative of selecting his most preferred Running Mate, in accordance with the NPP’s Constitution, shed light on factors that influenced his choice of the former Education Minister, over the many speculated names.
According to Dr. Bawumia, currently Ghana’s Vice President, by convention, the NPP has been almost emphasized a South-North, Christian/Muslim partnership in its presidential ticket for elections and there was no compelling reason to truncate this belief.
Aside from this political tradition were such important personal and political considerations he thought needed to be factored to ensure a solid presidential ticket to enable the NPP achieve an enviable record of a 3rd successive electoral victory in the December 7, 2024 elections.
“I was a banker and became the Vice President. I needed someone with experience with a legislative branch to provide me with complementarity.
I needed someone who could support me to win the election. I combed throughout Ghana for someone who could help me tour the Ashanti region and there was one person I could find and he is Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, a. k. a. NAPO”, The Flagbearer explained.
Giving further justifications for his choice, Dr. Bawumia said, “he’s knowledgeable, his knowledge is deeper, I’ve been with him in the last 16 years, he respects, a problem solver, he’s a generational thinker so I know the two of us share the same vision so I trust I can work with him. And I have every confidence in Dr. Opoku Prempeh.”
According to Dr. Bawumia, their pair is a ticket of youth, experience, innovation and generational thinking and therefore rallied Ghanaians to vote for them to win the election so as to move the country into the next generation.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce and bring to you, my Running Mate and Vice Presidential Candidate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh”, he raised Napo’s hand to officially introduce him to a cheering crowd.
The outdooring of the Running Mate brings to close, the internal election and selection processes of the NPP for this year’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
Earlier at the event, President Akufo-Addo had repeated his avowed aim to hand over political power to only a member of his party, the NPP explaining that, that is the only guarantee of his ‘sound sleep’ upon stepping down from the presidency of Ghana on January 6, 2025.
President Akufo-Addo noted that, Vice President Bawumia had justified the confidence and trust for which his choice as the Vice President and remained very loyal and faithful throughout their reign in the two terms of his government.
Nana Akufo-Addo appealed to the rank and file of the party to forgive one another, close their ranks and support the campaign activities to secure the NPP victory in the elections in December.
