Political analyst, Mr. Justice Siaw Mandela has identified Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as Ghana’s most popular running mate in political history.
He claims that the popularity of NAPO, as he is fondly known, is significantly more than that of Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, the running mate of the National Democratic Congress.
“The unique thing about NAPO that beats Prof. Opoku-Agyemang is his grassroots appeal. He has contested and won elections, whereas his rival has not contested any elections. He has stood for elections and won. He is a grounds person. He is a grassroots person. He has contested and won four different parliamentary elections. He is a well-marketed and well-sold politician. Very few people can evaluate their ministerial work.
However, the majority of voters will focus on their popularity. You will agree with me that if we mention their names in the media, the name NAPO will come up more than that of the professor. When he was moved from the Education Ministry, he did not relax; he was sent to the Energy Ministry, a very crucial ministry. The only difference between them is their gender. One is a woman who will appeal to those who want a woman to also be granted the opportunity to climb one of the highest political offices; there is the other one who is already a cutthroat politician. Something gives NAPO a little urge because he has been on the ground.
Let me also add that NAPO is the most popular running mate in our fourth republic. He is the one for whom the party and national security had to conduct research, which pointed him out as the most preferred choice as a running mate for the NPP. He was predicted to be selected, and he has been selected. This will go to the advantage of the NPP and secure their victory. It is not straight-forward for them to break the eight. But I don’t see any better pair in their quest to break the eight.”
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he said every selection is premised on the tactics you will use, and when you examine the tactics that the NPP wants to deploy, there is no better pair than Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
He referenced the 2020 general elections, explaining that the NPP managed to secure more votes than it has in its electoral history, and so they want to repeat that by using its presidential candidate.
“If you followed the 2020 elections, you will realise that the NPP did better in the North than before. Some analysts have also suggested that the personality Bawumia, coming from the North, secured more votes for the NPP in the 2020 general elections. So Bawumia is going to maximise the votes in the North, close the gap on the NDC, and secure victory if possible. The party therefore needs somebody who has the ability to maximise the votes in the Ashanti region and add them to the ones in the North.
The NPP usually wins elections in three regions, but the NDC has to secure more votes from different regions before they win the elections. So with that strategy in mind, there can be no better pair to represent the NPP than Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.”
Responding to assertions that Dr. Opoku Prempeh is arrogant and disrespectful, he said no human is perfect.
He said even Prof. Atta Mills, who was described as Ghana’s decent politician, had people who said negative things about him.
“So far, in our fourth Republican history, the only politician that people did not have a lot of negative things to say about him was the late Atta Mills, yet some individuals had negative things to say about him. As human beings, we have our own strengths and weaknesses. The first thing I want to point out is that we knew NAPO was the one to be selected as a running mate, but the announcement was delayed because of the perceived arrogance and disrespect, as well as the recent ‘dumsor’ that hit some parts of the country.
You will agree with me that the dumsor situation has improved and that Ghanaians have forgiven him. He has his negatives and his positives. He is someone who can help galvanise the votes for the NPP from the grassroots to the national level. Yes, the NPP has other equally competent people, but NAPO has more grassroots appeal than the others.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
