Nelson Mandela once said, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.” Few men in our generation exemplify this noble ideal better than Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
Napo, as he is affectionately called, sees success and greatness, especially in the political milieu, as the extent to which one is able to work in furtherance of the welfare of fellow human beings. It is for this reason that he has dedicated his entire adult life to selfless service to his people, party, and country. Bold, decisive, charismatic, and result-oriented, he remains one of the most outstanding public servants in Ghana’s recent history.
It took his courage and assertiveness to successfully roll out the Free SHS policy within the very first year of the Akufo-Addo administration despite strong resistance and skepticism from many quarters. As Energy Minister, he also brought discipline to the petroleum sector and helped ensure stable power supply during difficult global economic times.
These extraordinary achievements, coupled with his charisma and nationwide appeal, earned him the distinction of being selected by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as Running Mate for the 2024 general elections.
Napo campaigned vigorously across the country and energized the party’s base tremendously. Although the NPP lost the election, every credible post-election assessment including the Oquaye Election Review Committee Report and research findings by Global Info Analytics and KAS International attributed the defeat largely to incumbency disadvantage, unpopular government policies, neglect of party grassroots, and the perception of arrogance of power, not Dr. Bawumia or Napo.
Indeed, at no point in any of these findings were Dr. Bawumia or Napo identified as the cause of the party’s defeat. On the contrary, many acknowledged that the Bawumia-Napo ticket remained one of the party’s strongest political assets throughout the election period.
As the NPP prepares for another crucial election in 2028, Dr. Bawumia has once again emerged as the party’s presidential candidate and is expected to name his running mate in due course. Naturally, many individuals and interest groups are lobbying for their preferred candidates. Respectfully, however, the facts, political realities, and available data simply do not support the case for abandoning Napo.
If the objective is victory in 2028, then the most logical, strategic, and evidence-based decision is to maintain Napo as running mate. His competence, loyalty, national appeal, decisiveness, experience in government, grassroots connection, and proven campaign energy make him the best complement to Dr. Bawumia.
Napo is not only incorruptible and kind-hearted, but also charismatic, approachable, and blessed with an exceptional sense of humour. That is why he continues to enjoy admiration from many Ghanaians across the political divide.
There can hardly be an overestimation of the number of individuals and families whose lives he has touched and continues to transform. Both traditional and social media platforms remain awash with testimonies from people recounting how Napo has positively impacted their lives and livelihoods.
Competent, loyal, courageous, grassroots-oriented, and nationally appealing, Napo continues to stand tall as one of the NPP’s greatest political assets and undoubtedly remains the best running mate option for victory in 2028.
Happy Anniversary to my boss, mentor, and an extraordinary statesman.
Iddi Muhayu-Deen Esq.
#ForGodAndCountry
