The National Council of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has unanimously approved the nomination of Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, as the running mate to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for the 2024 presidential election.

The General Secretary of the party, Justin Kodua Frimpong, made the announcement after the party’s National Council had finished its emergency meeting at Alisa hotel in Accra on Thursday afternoon, [July 4, 2024.]

The National Council is the final approving organ of the running mate choice of the party.

The NPP flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia had completed his consultations with various stakeholders in the NPP about his nomination of Dr Opoku Prempeh as his running mate choice.

Last week, it came out that he had met with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and disclosed to him that his choice was Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South in Kumasi.

On Monday, July 1, 2024, Dr Bawumia formally informed the national officers of the NPP of his nomination of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO) as his running mate.

A similar meeting also occurred between Dr Bawumia and the Majority caucus in Parliament.

Nominating NAPO

Article 12 (b) of the NPP constitution states that the Party’s Presidential Candidate [flag bearer] shall, in consultation with the National Council, nominate the Vice Presidential Candidate [running mate], who shall be a known and active Member of at least five (5) years.

Per the NPP constitution, the flag bearer was expected to have named his running mate somewhere last December 2023.  

However, as later announced by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the flag bearer requested that he is given a bit more time to consult widely before he presents a name.

This request was granted on the strength of the same article.

Profile of NAPO

Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who is a Dentist by training, was born on Thursday, May 23, 1968.

He is a Christian and a married man.  

Education 

Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh wrote the Common Entrance in 1980 and entered Prempeh College in Kumasi from where he obtained his Ordinary Level Certificate (O-Level) in 1985 and Advanced Level Certificate (A-Level) in 1987.

He proceeded to the university and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology in 1991; M. Sc. (CLINIC EPID) (Clinical Research) in  1994, MB.ChB (Medicine) in 1998 and MRCS (glasg) (Surgery) in 2002.

He holds an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership (Governance/Leadership) which he obtained in 2016.

He is currently a member of the Defence and Interior Committee as well as the Appointments Committee of Parliament.