Bawumia's running mate: Government, NPP dismiss alleged NIB polls that put Napo ahead

Mr. Palgrave Boakye Danquah, the Government Spokesperson on Security and Governance, has clarified that the government did not authorize the National Bureau of Investigations (NIB) polls suggesting Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the running mate for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the 2024 general elections.

He also stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) did not mandate the NIB to conduct such polls.

Speaking on the matter, Mr. Boakye Danquah explained that while the NIB is an intelligence-gathering organization with the mandate to gather information for policy formation and to gauge public opinion, the specific polls in question were not sanctioned by the government or the NPP.

"The NIB has the authority to gather intelligence to advise on policy formation and to understand the pulse of the people, including opinions related to political parties such as the National Democratic Congress (NDC), NPP, and the Convention People's Party," he noted.

He further elaborated that it is not unusual for the NIB to gather intelligence, especially in an election year, and that such activities are part of their mandate.

However, he emphasized that these polls should not be construed

Mr Boakye Danquah made this clarity while speaking in an interview with Kesben FM on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh emerged as the preferred choice of running mate for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Presidential candidate for the 2024 general election, according to a survey conducted by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).

The comprehensive nationwide survey, conducted from June 12 to June 14, 2024, targeted NPP delegates, including national, regional, constituency, and polling station executives, utilizing the party's delegates album to ensure a representative sample. The survey polled 5,116 party executives.

The results of the survey indicate that Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, commonly known as NAPO, who currently serves as the Minister of Energy and Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, secured 76.2% of the responses from the executives polled, making him the leading candidate for the position of running mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Following him is Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education and MP for the Bosomtwe constituency, who garnered 10.1% of the responses from the polled executives. Other notable personalities considered as potential running mates include Apostle Opoku Onyinah, former Chairman of the Pentecost Church of Ghana, and Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Agriculture and MP for Abetifi Constituency.

According to the report, Dr. Prempeh is highly preferred as the best pair for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia due to his popularity and strong connections with the grassroots of the party.

His nomination for the position of running mate resonates well with the grassroots, potentially fostering party unity essential for enhancing Dr. Bawumia’s chances, particularly in the Ashanti region, a stronghold of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

This conclusion is reinforced by an earlier survey conducted by the NIB in January 2024, which assessed the electorate's choice of running mate across Ghana. Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh was preferred among voters as the choice of running mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

However, the report noted that given Dr. Prempeh’s current role as the Minister of Energy, the ongoing power crises in Ghana could impact his candidacy. Therefore, the Government may need to implement necessary measures to solidify his competence in managing the energy sector, thereby enhancing the party’s prospects in the 2024 general elections.