A credible source within the government has confirmed that the Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as Napo, is expected to be unveiled shortly as the running mate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for the upcoming 2024 general elections.
On Tuesday night, Vice President Dr. Bawumia consulted President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House regarding his choice of running mate for the December 7 presidential election. President Akufo-Addo provided advice and endorsed Dr. Bawumia’s selection.
Dr. Bawumia is anticipated to meet with the NPP’s national council in the coming days to formally present his choice before making an official announcement.
A survey conducted by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) on June 15, 2024, revealed that Dr. Opoku Prempeh was the preferred choice among NPP members to be the running mate. The survey involved 5,116 NPP delegates nationwide, including national, regional, constituency, and polling station executives, with Dr. Opoku Prempeh receiving 76.2% of the responses.
Additionally, a survey by Research Trust Limited, affiliated with the pro-NPP think tank Danquah Institute (DI), indicated that 70% of respondents favored Dr. Opoku Prempeh as the ideal running mate for Dr. Bawumia. This survey gathered views from NPP executives at various levels across all 16 regions, emphasizing regional preferences and showing that 92% of executives preferred a running mate from the Ashanti Region. Dr. Opoku Prempeh topped the list with 70% of responses, followed by Frema Osei Opare at 10% and Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum at 9%.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, a 56-year-old medical doctor and graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, is a favored choice among the party’s grassroots, making his selection as running mate unsurprising.