Announcement of NAPO as Dr Bawumia’s running mate

NEWS COMMENTARY ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MATHEW OPOKU PREMPEH, (POPULARLY KNOWN AS NAPO), AS DR. BAWUMIA’S RUNNING MATE. 

Late last year, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) elected the sitting Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as its flagbearer in the upcoming 2024 general elections. He therefore becomes the new leader of the NPP. In all, 204,144 delegates, which consist of polling station executives from 38,622 polling stations  went to the polls on Saturday, November 4, 2023, to decide who would become the party’s flagbearer. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia won the poll with 118,210 votes, representing 61.47 percent, while his closest contender, Mr. Kenedy Ohene Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, came in second with 71,996 votes, representing 37.41%. Dr. Afriyie Akoto, who placed a distant third, received 1,459 votes, representing 0.76%. Mr. Addai-Nimoh garnered a mere 781 votes, representing 0.38%.

Time has passed, with huge anxiety and speculations as to who would be his running mate. Per the NPP constitution, the flag bearer was expected to have named his running mate somewhere in December 2023, but the flagbearer had earlier pleaded with the National Council of the party for more time to make deeper consultations in respect of his choice. The flagbearer, Dr Bawumia, needed to apply all systems in relation to the party’s good old tradition to fulfil all righteousness. One political party in Ghana that believes in traditions and arguably has worked for them is the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The tables have dramatically turned, perhaps against the system favourites.

For instance, one of its prominent and cherished traditions over the years has been the “Danquah-Dombo-Busia” cord. This tradition is perhaps the oldest surviving political tradition in Ghana today, and it dates back to 1947, before Ghana attained independence. It emanates from its main leading figures and the role they played in establishing the party’s ideologies and objectives. There have been three Ghanaian Presidents, from this established tradition, coming from two of these sections of the country, Kofi Abrefa Busia and John Agyekum Kufour from the middle belt, with Nana Akufo-Addo coming from the southern section of the country. What is left now is the northern sector, which has not seen any member of the tradition leading the party, let alone becoming a President of the land.

So, whose turn is it? Ethnicity and perhaps religion, had to come into play. The party that boasts of having men and women to work is obviously going to be an enormous task for the Presidential Candidate, who has the prerogative to select among the many as his running mate. The choice was obviously going to come from the stronghold of the party, the Ashanti Region, to balance the odds. So finally, on the 4th of July, 2024, the National Council of the governing Party unanimously approved the nomination of Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), as the running mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the 2024 presidential election, in accordance with Article 12 of the NPP constitution, which states that the Party’s Presidential Candidate shall, in consultation with the National Council, nominate the Vice Presidential Candidate who shall be a known and active Member for at least five years.

As a trained Medical Doctor, the nominated running mate of Dr. Bawumia is a prominent Ghanaian politician who has made significant contributions to the development of his country in politics, health, education, and energy. In 2008, he won the general election on the ticket of the NPP and got the mandate to represent the people of Manhyia. Subsequently, the constituency was divided into two, and he went on to become a Member of Parliament for Manhyia South in 2012. He has held two key sectors, the Ministries of Education and Energy, in the Akufo-Addo government. During his tenure, he successfully led the team at the Ministry of Education to deliver on the flagship education programme of the government, the Free Senior High School policy, to widespread admiration, even from his political opponents.

Today, as a serving Cabinet Minister, Dr Opoku Prempeh is still part of the President’s inner circle and assists in key decision-making in Ghana. The question all over has been, whether he is the one that can add up to the leader to break the eight-voting cycle the party is clamouring for? His interpersonal relationships and attitude have come to dead scrutiny. Speculations are that this was part of the delay in announcing his candidature. The nominated aspiring Vice President of the NPP must conduct a self-examination, genuinely reflecting on his life and soberly analysing all that has been said of him, his demeanour, attitude, behaviour and accordingly tune in to the likes of the voting populace.

One cannot but only wish him and the party well.

BY DR. NANA SIFA TWUM, MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT.

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