The Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mensah Thompson, has urged the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to worry about the Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh aka NAPO being selected as the running mate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
During a panel discussion on ChannelOne TV on July 1, 2024, Mensah Thompson assured the NDC that civil society organisations, including ASEPA, would handle NAPO if he is announced as the NPP’s vice-presidential candidate.
He mentioned that he is compiling statements and actions of the Energy Minister and Member of Parliament for Manhyia South to discredit his candidacy swiftly.
“I want to tell the NDC, please don’t waste your time on Matthew Opoku Prempeh. Leave him for us. We will finish him in 48 hours. Focus on your campaign, your messages, and leave him for us,” Thompson declared.
He added, “Were we not in this country when he was Education Minister? Haven’t we seen him as Minister for Energy? Please leave him for us. We will end it for him in exactly 48 hours. I have started the compilation of his tapes, of his own parliamentary behaviours, all his public and private fracas.”
Thompson also advised the NDC not to direct its vice-presidential candidate, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to be reacting to NAPO’s statements.
“We have all that. We are ready for him. They should bring him. Let’s end it for him. And I want to caution the NDC, please, especially the handlers of Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang; don’t waste your time trying to use Prof. to come and respond to NAPO or put NAPO and her on the same level. No, they are not on the same level. Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang is on a pedestal; NAPO is in the gutters,” he stated.
He continued, “Leave him there. Let somebody else respond to him. Let Prof. focus on campaigning, talking to the market women, talking to the people, and leave NAPO for us. We are the ones who are going to handle NAPO for you. Don’t worry at all. We give just 48 hours. They should announce.”
Meanwhile, the NPP’s flagbearer, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has officially submitted the name of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as his preferred running mate for the upcoming 2024 elections.
Dr. Bawumia presented NAPO to the National Executives of the party on Monday, July 1, 2024, at the party’s headquarters in Accra.
The Vice President also met with the Majority Caucus of Parliament earlier that day to inform them of his decision.
Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed that the Vice President has presented NAPO as his running mate to the National Executives, with the next step being the approval of NAPO’s nomination by the National Executive Council, expected to be done on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
Source: modernghana.com
