Member of Parliament for Manhyia South Mathew Opoku Prempeh is set to be named running mate of NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia ahead of the December 7th Election.
The announcement of Dr. Prempeh popularly known as Napo as NPP running mate, sources told MyNewsGh.com, will come after the NPP flagbearer completes his tour of the Ashanti Region this week.
Barring any unforeseen changes, Dr. Bawumia is expected to submit before the party National Council the name of the energy minister as his nominee to become the Vice Presidential Candidate of the NPP for the 2024 election.
As part of the tour of the Ashanti Region, final consultations and briefing about the choice of Napo will be laid before key opinion leaders and influencers of the region including Chiefs, key queen mothers and party elders in a series of close door meetings arranged for the NPP flagbearer, this portal was told.
There are however grave concerns by some party insiders against the nomination of the Manhyia Royal as Running Mate, concerns which are yet to be resolved or addressed.
His critics, some of whom hail from his home region of Ashanti say they cannot work seamlessly with the Manhyia lawmaker as they say he is “polarizing and domineering”, a trait they claim is unhealthy for the ticket.
He has also been accused of arrogance by some persons which has led to friction between him and some of his colleagues at the highest level.
His recent comments regarding the power outage situation or dumsor has been cited as further reason why his nomination may be a problem managing the platform as running mate who may have to sometimes lead discussion into key economic and governance issues in the country.
Some close advisors to the Vice President also suspect the former Education Minister of harbouring Presidential dreams; they therefore suspect that the Ashanti royal may turn around to contest Bawumia in 2026/2027 in case the NPP does not win the upcoming election.
Stronger Reasons To Pick Napo
The odd of Mathew Opoku Prempeh becoming the NPP running mate is however said to be very high due to some positive factors going in his favour as against what goes against him cited above.
Research conducted around the various personalities shortlisted earlier as possible running mates showed Napo retains overwhelming support within the NPP especially in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern and Northern and surprisingly even the Volta Region despite perceptions he lacked support there.
His appeal also reaches the Bono and Ahafo areas where the MMDCEs there are said to be heavily loyal to Napo.
Although Napo faces opposition from some persons in his own home region, the Kumasi Traditional Council as well as the Manhyia Palace where NAPO’s father is Apagyahene are said to be “excited” about his nomination.
For the first time in Ghana, chiefs in Ashanti are said to be salivating to market Napo to their indigenes. Permutations conducted by the NPP suggests a strong showing in the Ashanti Region alone is enough to take up or “maintain the NPP in Jubilee House even if the party performs a little above average in all other regions”, a confidential internal memo sighted by this portal said.
Approximately 80% of the current NPP National executives as well as over 90% of all regional and constituency executives of the NPP support the choice of Napo as running mate.
A polling of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives undertaken by National Security indicated as much as 70% of all MMDCEs back Napo as the NPP running mate with the remaining 30% splintered among 5 other potential nominees.
This has led to criticism that NAPO’s support base appear to be inside the NPP rather than outside but his supporters say Dr. Bawumia needs someone who can help him consolidate the party base and energize them to campaign before seeking the “external bonus votes”.
One of the figures whose campaign for the NPP ahead of the 2024 election is crucial is Assin Central Lawmaker Kennedy Agyapong who has said he would only join the campaign wholeheartedly if “my man” Napo is made running mate.
Furthermore, all but 2 regional ministers of the Akufo-Addo government in all 16 region say they prefer Napo as running mate rather than any other candidate including but not limited to Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum, Apostle Opoku Onyinah, Frema Opare, Irene Naa Torshie, Kwabena Agyapong, Joseph Siaw Agyapong, Bryan Acheampong, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu among numerous floated names.
Various research conducted by the party and the government using National Security Logistics identified Mr. Prempeh as the most popular party figure to ignite NPP’s support base in the Ashanti Region.
The Akyem faction in the party who were said to have been pushing late John Kumah as their running mate choice have now agreed to compromise and accept Mathew Opoku Prempeh on conditions that have not been made known to this portal.
This portal is reliably informed in a matter of days, barring any unforeseen contingencies, the NPP flagbearer will be submitting the name of Napo nominee to the National Council of the party for deliberation and possible approval.
Prof Rita Akosua Dickson diversion
Last week, US-based Vlogger Kevin Taylor alleged that Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Prof Rita Akosua Dickson could be named running mate of the NPP.
Mr. Taylor wrote on his X timeline that barring any last-minute changes, the academic may end on the ticket as running mate.
“Baring (sic) any last minute changes Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice Chancellor of KNUST is expected to be named running mate of Dr Bawumia.” he wrote.
Insiders told MyNewsGh.com this post by the Vlogger was a possible diversion from the impending naming of Napo.
The US-Ghanaian journalist has been critical of Napo in recent weeks making allegations of corruption against him. The ministry of energy has dismissed those allegations.
Mynewsgh.com