Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh
Source: Africa Publicity
On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the internet in Ghana was flooded with news of current Minister of Energy of the Government of Ghana, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, being picked by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as his running mate for the crucial December 7, 2024 Presidential Election in Ghana.
As usual, the choice of Dr. Opoku Prempeh – a man fondly known as NAPO – as Dr Bawumia’s running mate, has been greeted with mixed reactions, as a section of Ghanaians believe he’s not the right person to partner Dr. Bawumia while others think he’s the right choice to partner the Vice President for the ruling New Patriotic Party’s ticket.
Surveys
Even before Dr. Bawumia could officially inform President Nana Akufo-Addo that he had settled on NAPO as his running mate, there was a report by the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) of Ghana that says Dr. Opoku Prempeh was widely preferred among members of the New Patriotic Party to be running mate to Dr. Bawumia for the 2024 polls.
According to the NIB survey,
NAPO secured 76.27% of the responses from New Patriotic Party executives surveyed nationwide, making him the leading candidate for the position of running mate to Dr. Bawumia.
The survey carried out between 12 and 14 June, 2024, says NIB, targeted NPP delegates, including national, regional, constituency, and polling station executives, utilising the party’s delegates album to ensure a representative sample. The survey polled 5116 party executives.
Another survey released by Research Trust Limited, a research entity affiliated with pro-NPP think tank Danquah Institute (DI), revealed that 70% of respondents preferred Dr. Opoku Prempeh as the ideal running mate to partner with New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the 2024 general elections.
The survey gathered views from NPP executives at polling stations, constituency, regional, and national levels across the 16 regions.
A significant finding of the study, which focused on regional preferences of NPP executives for a potential running mate, showed that about nine in 10 executives (92%) preferred the running mate to come from the Ashanti Region.
And eventually, Dr. Opoku Prempeh was chosen by Dr. Bawumia as a running mate.
So who is Dr. Opoku Prempeh?
NAPO, a Ghanaian medical doctor and politician from the Ashanti Region of Ghana, was born on May 23, 1968. Specifically, he hails from Pakyi No. 2 in the Ashanti Region.
A former Minister of Education under the President Akufo-Addo’s regime, Dr. Opoku Prempeh currently serves as the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Manhyia South Constituency in the Ashanti Region.
NAPO’s Early Life and Education
Dr. Opoku Prempeh began his basic education at the Kwame University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Primary School. Upon completing KNUST Primary School, he proceeded to Prempeh College in Kumasi for his middle school education.
The renowned medical doctor studied Human Biology and Medicine at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and completed his MB CHB in 1994.
He went on to do his post-graduate studies in MSc. Clinical Epidemiology at the Netherlands Institute of Health Sciences in 1998, and subsequently at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University where he studied Leadership and Government(certificate course).
Still in his pursuit for knowledge, in 2002, Dr. Opoku Prempeh pursued postgraduate training in surgery in the UK (MRCS).
Career
From 2004 to 2009, Dr. Opoku Prempeh served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Keyedmap Security Services Limited.
He also served as a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2003.
As a politician and lawmaker, Dr. Opoku Prempeh represents the people of Manyhia South Constituency in Kumasi.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh was first elected to the Ghanaian Parliament in 2008 during the last year of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
In 2016, he was re-elected after polling 35,958 votes, or 87.17% of the votes cast in the Constituency during the Parliamentary elections.
He has served on various committees in the Parliament of Ghana, including the Parliament Health Committee, and the Appointments Committee.
Should the New Patriotic Party win the December 7, 2024 Presidential Election, Dr. Opoku Prempeh could serve as Ghana’s next Vice President from January 2025.
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