body-container-line-1

NAPO was the best to succeed Bawumia — Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on 2024 running mate choice 

NPP Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, former Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs(left) and former Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh
FRI, 24 JAN 2025 2
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, former Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs(left) and former Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh

Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, former Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, has shed light on how the New Patriotic Party (NPP) arrived at the decision to select former Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, popularly known as Napo, as its 2024 vice-presidential candidate.

The former Suame legislator revealed that the party assessed its members across all regions before finally settling on a nominee from its stronghold in the Ashanti Region.

Speaking in an interview on Kumasi-based Ash FM, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu disclosed that he personally proposed Napo as the running mate, even though some thought he should have been considered for the position.

He explained that he believed the then Energy Minister was the best candidate to seamlessly succeed the flagbearer after his tenure.

“There is no one who joins the police service without aspiring to become the IGP. It’s not that I didn’t want the running mate position. I had been Minority Leader for eight years and at that time had served as Majority Leader for two years. Before that, I was Chief Whip and Deputy Leader, so in terms of experience and maybe knowledge, I could even become president.

“However, there is a time and season for everything. I also believed the running mate should be someone who could succeed Bawumia seamlessly. That’s why I proposed Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh,” he explained.

In the lead-up to the 2024 general election, the NPP decided to select its vice-presidential candidate from the Ashanti Region to consolidate its electoral base.

However, the choice of Dr. Opoku-Prempeh drew public criticism, with some describing him as arrogant and unfit to eventually assume the position of Vice President following his controversial comments and posture.

The NPP suffered a significant defeat in the December 7, election.

The Electoral Commission’s official results, with one constituency yet to be declared, showed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama securing 6,591,790 votes (56.42%) to defeat the NPP’s Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who garnered 4,877,611 votes (41.75%).

The NDC also claimed an overwhelming majority in Parliament, winning 183 seats, while the NPP, previously the majority party, managed just 88 seats.

Isaac Donkor Distinguished
Isaac Donkor Distinguished

Is a journalist with a keen interest in politics, current affairs, and social issuesPage: isaac-donkor-distinguished

Follow our WhatsApp channel for meaningful stories picked for your day.

Comments

Kofi | 1/24/2025 4:05:05 PM

Another disaster is in the often 2028 presidential and parliamentary elections for npp

Should Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) be privatized?

Started: 11-02-2025 | Ends: 11-03-2025

body-container-line