Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the running mate of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has been formally presented to His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
During the official introduction ceremony, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo extolled the exceptional qualities of Dr Bawumia and his running mate expressing confidence in their ability to secure a resounding victory for the NPP in the 2024 general elections.
He praised Dr. Bawumia’s outstanding contributions to his administration over the past seven years, highlighting his humility, dedication, and commitment to the nation’s progress.
President Akufo-Addo also took the opportunity to express his heartfelt gratitude to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his unwavering support of his administration, acknowledging the esteemed monarch’s invaluable contributions to the nation’s development.
Furthermore, he urged all party members to rally behind the Bawumia-NAPO ticket, emphasising the importance of unity and collective effort in securing a decisive victory for the NPP in the 2024 general elections.
“Dr Bawumia had helped me in so many ways, I doubt if any President had the support of his vice like I did. He’s humble and dedicated; he always supports me. He’s the one Ghanaians are expecting to break the eight. He will add to my good works and move Ghana forward.
“Otumfuo, Dr Bawumia decided to select from your own house, your grandson, NAPO who is the MP for Manhyia South and he’s also a minister, he’s the one Dr Bawumia introduced him to the national council, and they all unanimously agreed to be the running mate of Bawumia.
“I have worked with these two gentlemen, and I know their capabilities, if they are given the nod, they will deliver to the betterment of Ghanaians. He worked hard at the education ministry during his tenure and has also been working hard at the energy ministry. I came here to introduce NAPO and Bawumia to you. We came here to seek your blessings to help them succeed.”
Profile of NAPO
Matthew Opoku Prempeh was born on May 23, 1968 in Ashanti New Town, a suburb of Kumasi, and hails from Pakyi No. 2 in the Ashanti Region.
He started his basic education at KNUST Primary School and proceeded to Prempeh College for his middle school education, all in Kumasi.
He studied Human Biology and Medicine at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and completed his MB CHB in 1994. He continued with post-graduate studies in MSc. Clinical Epidemiology at the Netherlands Institute of Health Sciences in 1998. He further pursued postgraduate training in surgery in the UK.
Career and political life
After working with the National Health Service in the United Kingdom for some time, he returned to Ghana in 2005 to pursue a career in business and more importantly in politics. He successfully became the Member of Parliament for Manhyia in 2009.
Before entering Parliament after winning the Manhyia South seat in 2008, he was the chief executive officer of Keyedmap Security Services Limited from 2004 to 2009. He also served as a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2003.
He was elected to Parliament in 2008 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party. Ahead of the 2012 elections, the constituency was divided into two, and in those elections, he won the newly created Manhyia South constituency, which he retained in 2016 and 2020.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed him as Minister of Education during his first term. As Education Minister, Napo, as he is affectionately called, spearheaded the implementation of the famous Free Senior High School policy. Under Dr. Prempeh, the successful implementation of the government’s flagship Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy saw the country’s SHS population leap from 800,000 in 2016 to 1.2 million by January 2021.
Prior to his appointment as Minister for Education in 2017, he was a member of the Defence and Interior Committee and the Appointments Committee.
The President appointed him during his second term in 2021 to head the Ministry of Energy after the NPP retained power in the 2020 elections.
Becoming NPP’s running mate
Matthew Opoku Prempeh became one of the frontrunners for the NPP’s running mate with the party’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia engaging President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, June 25 at the Jubilee House.
His name was submitted to the National Council of the NPP for consideration during which he was unanimously approved by members of the council.
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