NPP NEC decides NAPO's fate today as Appiah Kubi, group mount opposition

The National Council (NEC) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will meet today, July 4, 2024, to deliberate on the choice of Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh as the running mate to the party's flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

The NEC is expected to host Dr. Bawumia and give him a platform to defend his selection of the Minister of Energy as his partner for the 2024 elections, in which the party seeks to make history by being the first political party under the fourth republic to govern for twelve consecutive years.

According to the National Organizer of the party, Nana Boakye, alias Nana B, the meeting is in accordance with the constitution of the party.

"In our party's constitution, Article 13 is quite clear that whoever the nominee is, whoever you intend to present as a running mate, you must do so in consultation with the National Council. So he [Bawumia] is presenting before the National Council the MP for Manhyia South and Minister for Energy, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh [as his running mate]."

After a lengthy period of widespread rumours, Dr. Bawumia finally confirmed NAPO as his running mate following a meeting with President Akufo-Addo.

According to reports, President Akufo-Addo, who had some reservations about the choice, gave Bawumia his blessing after he (Bawumia) convinced him with his reasons for choosing NAPO.

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North has expressed disapproval of the choice by Dr. Bawumia.

"I wouldn't speak for the majority because we have not been consulted as a caucus for us to state our position. But for me, Appiah-Kubi, you can solicit my view on that. If it were up to me to choose, I wouldn't choose him. He is not my preference. 'Appiah-Kubi is saying that he is not my preference', but that doesn't mean he is not qualified," he told Joy News in an interview.

"I would want somebody who would be open with the people on the ground, who would be able to deliver the votes, who would submit to the presidency, and who would be important in bringing Parliament closer to the executive."

A group calling itself the Patriotic Movement for Bawumia has also kicked against the decision by Dr. Bawumia, urging him to appoint a different person.

Addressing the media after presenting their petition to the Ashanti Regional Communication Officer, Paul Kwabena Yandoh, at Dr. Bawumia's office in Kumasi, Ebenezer Nyamekye said, "We are the Patriotic Movement for Bawumia in the Ashanti Region. We are made up of representatives from all 47 constituencies of the Ashanti Region. As grassroots members of the party, we believe the choice of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as running mate to Bawumia is a bad decision for the NPP."

He explained, "Dr. Bawumia is a Muslim, who is in the minority. There was a need for the party to select a recognized Christian to provide religious balance and address the perception that some Christian majorities have against Muslims. Secondly, everybody in this country knows that the Manhyia South MP, NAPO, is perceived as very disrespectful, and Ghanaians will have a lot to say about him. Let's be honest here, if NAPO speaks for 5 minutes on radio or on a campaign platform, it takes the party three months to clean up his mess. This is not the kind of running mate we need at this time."