The New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Sunday, August 18, 2024, launched its manifesto for the December 7 general elections at Takoradi in the Western Region.
The event, which was held at the Ghana Secondary Technical School, attracted thousands of party members and supporters, including President Akufo-Addo, his Vice and Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, had the opportunity to address the gathering.
GhanaWeb takes a look at four critical things he said in his address.
Bawumia is not corrupt
Dr. Matthew Opoku strongly endorsed Dr Bawumia for his impeccable record on corruption.
He highlighted that Dr. Bawumia has never been implicated in any form of corrupt activities throughout his political career.
He stressed that Dr. Bawumia's unblemished integrity is one of his key strengths, positioning him as a reliable leader for the country.
NAPO urged Ghanaians to take note of this clean track record as they make their decision in the upcoming 2024 elections.
Call to duty
Dr. Opoku Prempeh called on NPP members to gird their loins and work assiduously to ensure the party wins the pending December 7 elections and retain power to be able to continue with the massive developmental agenda currently ongoing.
"We have a general election to win, and this general elections we will win. With God, all things are possible. This is a call to duty. Today's manifesto launch is the show of our contest of ideas and policies that are going to serve as a guiding light for His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia when, by God's grace, he assumes office on January 7. He promises us that he needs no honeymoon. From January 7, he is going to start working for the people of Ghana.
"The NPP which he leads has a record of delivery. In 2016 and 2020, the NPP delivered on its manifesto. I do recall Dr. Bawumia calling to account for what we were doing and what, so far, we had done in the education sector. That led some of us to think deep, Mr President, your work has shown that you are a man who honours his word. Based on the work you have done, I am sure Ghanaians are going to give us the mandate to continue from where we are," NAPO said.
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Akufo-Addo's achievement in the education sector
Dr. Opoku Prempeh praised President Akufo Addo for his huge investment in the education sector and for providing the necessary facilities and equipment to boost teaching and learning.
"The 2016 election was a contest of ideas. When you talk about Free SHS and free TVET, you didn't stop there. From early childhood care and new nurseries, you developed, you made sure that in the area of I.T., every school gets a school laboratory which is in progress.
"You made sure that every teacher gets a laptop for I.T., and it is in progress. You made sure that every child in secondary school gets a laptop, and it is in progress. Mr President, when you assumed office in 2017, 40,000 Ghanaian students had passed the WASSCE but could not get their results because they couldn't pay their examination fees.
"Before you came to office, for every hundred Ghanaian students that qualified to go to SHS, 35 could not go because they couldn't afford it. For the 65 that went to secondary school, by the time of WASSCE, another 30 had dropped out and that is why it was only 800 students in school when you came. Even not all that 800 would have qualified or to would be able to stay through three years. As we speak, every child that goes to secondary school leaves with the best result ever.
"Mr President, the profound thing you did in education is that when the naysayers said it was not possible, you made it possible; when the naysayers said you were diluting education, you were lowering standards, the first batch of free SHS students stayed home five months because of COVID, and when they came back to school, and they sat for the WASSCE, the best result Ghana has had, 68% had aggregate A1, 8 subjects, which was the whole of West Africa, they for the first time also passed all the four core subjects."
ON energy, he recounted that before President Akufo-Addo assumed office in 2017, there had been five years of power cuts under John Mahama. But not only has the Akufo-Addo government kept the light on, but even during trying times, the lights have been on.
He noted that the average electricity price is now cheaper dollar by dollar between 2017 and now. You have not only exhibited competence, but you have exhibited leadership par excellence.
Ready to serve
Dr. Opoku Prempeh expressed his commitment to fully serve Dr. Bawumia and work hard to enable the party retain power.
"I am a strong believer in Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. I have worked more closely with him than many more would ever know. I believe in his ability and his knowledge. Surely, he is the man of the moment.
"I, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, am committed to serving him loyally to ensure his vision is translated into a mission and an action purpose for myself. I know his vision is for a brighter, better business-friendly country called Ghana, and I pledge to even work harder to realise this vision," NAPO said.
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