Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, the running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections, made a name for himself with several controversial statements.
After being selected to partner with the NPP presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, NAPO's remarks on various campaign platforms sparked significant public discourse.
Here are seven statements that raised eyebrows in Ghana in 2024
1.Your Kwame Nkrumah comment
During his official unveiling in Kumasi on June 9, 2024, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh lauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's government as the best in Ghana's 67 years of independence.
He controversially claimed that not 'even' Ghana's first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, could compare to President Akufo-Addo in terms of development.
"It has never happened in the history of Ghana. If President Akufo-Addo retires, I can hit my chest and state that since the nation's inception in 1957, there has not been a president who has helped the state more than Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo," NAPO stated.
"I am saying that from 1957 to now, whether you pick 'your' Kwame Nkrumah... there is nobody who has led Ghana and protected the country or developed Ghana more than Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo."
2.Go and do your dumsor timetable if you want one
Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh refuted claims that Ghana had returned to the days of the power crisis, popularly known as dumsor.
He stated that the current power outages in the country cannot be classified the same way as the dumsor that occurred under the NDC administration.
Speaking at the inauguration of the NPP campaign team in the Ashanti Region in March 2024, Dr. Opoku Prempeh assured the public that efforts were underway to address the challenges.
Responding to a question asked by a journalist, NAPO said "Ask those who want it to bring it, if there is. I haven't seen any timetable."
3. Vote for Mahama
The Vice-presidential candidate of the NPP, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, during a campaign rally in the Greater Accra Region in November 2024, mistakenly endorsed the NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama.
NAPO, who aimed to campaign for his flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and the Madina NPP parliamentary candidate Robert Lamptey, mistakenly called for support for Mahama.
“When you are voting, …vote for John Mahama and Robert, John Mahama, and Robert …eii Bawumia and Robert, you didn’t allow me to finish. I mean Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Robert,” he said amidst laughter.
5. NDC Killed pastors and prophets
In a viral video from a campaign event in September 2024, NAPO accused the NDC of being responsible for the deaths of some pastors in the country.
He alleged that the NDC killed two pastors and a ritualist.
"They are the only people who kill pastors. They killed two pastors in Ghana. One of the pastors killed was Prophet Asare, and the other was Brother Amoako. They killed them in broad daylight," he claimed. "It was not even all; they killed a ritualist, Nana Drobo, the one who invented the HIV drug. They killed him and left him in the bush."
6. Return of seized excavators to miners
Dr. Opoku Prempeh during the campaign period pledged that a future NPP government would return all seized excavators confiscated during the crackdown on illegal mining.
Speaking to the chiefs and residents of Prestea Huni Valley and Mpohor in the Western Region in September 2024, he emphasized that the NPP flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has no intention of banning small-scale mining.
"We will give all seized excavators to you so you can do your work peacefully. This will help everyone to get money to fend for themselves and also for the community to develop. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will not collapse small-scale mining," NAPO reassured the mining communities.
7. No one will shoot and kill anybody
In a viral video from a campaign platform, NAPO dismissed calls for the shooting and killing of people engaging in illegal mining, known as galamsey.
He accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of hypocrisy over their stance on galamsey issues.
"The time they wanted votes, they said when they come, they would leave the galamseyers alone. But now they want to tell NPP people that we should shoot and kill galamseyers. Tell NDC that, no way. We won’t shoot them today or tomorrow," NAPO declared.
"The truth is that God, who created the world, placed the gold under the ground, and it is the job of the government to establish community mining schemes for everybody to work peacefully."
AM/EK
Watch some videos from the recent Parliamentary sittings below:
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