The founder and president of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has reacted to reports of New Patriotic Party Flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia presenting the Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), as his choice of running mate for the 2024 polls.

In a post shared on Facebook on Thursday, June 27, 2024, Cudjoe pointed out that even though NAPO has fine qualities, his own actions are his undoing.

He described the energy minister as a "difficult running mate choice" because of his past pronouncements.

The IMANI Boss also stated that NAPO, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South and a former Minister for Education, has a lot of questions to answer, including the issues with the Free SHS which he implemented.

"So, it is true, NAPO is running mate to Bawumia. Thanks for confirming, folks. I think it was a difficult choice because of his notorious public comments on critical issues and posturing.

"I do know, however, that he can be serious when he wants to - I admired his professionalism when he was the ranking member of the health committee in Parliament under the late Atta Mills. I had been invited to appear before the health committee meeting, he was chairing, to testify on certain aspects of the public health bill that were inimical to civil liberties. Eventually, the bill was passed.

He added, “NAPO is his own nemesis. He can be abrasive when he wants to. Now though, he needs to be serious and be prepared to deal with questions about the wasted efforts in the energy sector, with a huge $2bn deficit in the sector. He must tell us how qualitatively he thinks free SHS has added to the country's GDP."

About NAPO's nomination:

According to a report from myjoyonline.com, the NPP flagbearer presented NAPO as his running mate during a meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.

JoyNews' Presidential Affairs correspondent, Elton Brobbey, stated that after the vice president presented his choice of running mate to President Akufo-Addo, the president offered advice and shared his thoughts before ultimately accepting Dr. Bawumia's choice.

"He was first elected to Parliament on June 1, 2008, and successfully re-elected in 2012, 2016, and 2020. He has served on the Health, Appointment, and Defence and Interior Committees of Parliament.

"In 2017, President Akufo-Addo appointed him as Education Minister, and he currently holds the position of Energy Minister. His name is Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known as NAPO," the journalist reported.

Read Franklin Cudjoe’s full post below:

So, it is true, NAPO is running mate to Bawumia. Thanks for confirming, folks. I think it was a difficult choice because of his notorious public comments on critical issues and posturing.

I do know, however, that he can be serious when he wants to - I admired his professionalism when he was the ranking member of the health committee in Parliament under the late Atta Mills. I had been invited to appear before the health committee meeting he was chairing to testify on certain aspects of the public health bill that were inimical to civil liberties. Eventually, the bill was passed.

I was part of a small group he invited to meet over how he intended to roll out the free SHS promise after being named the first education minister in 2017. It was a difficult conversation, especially when there was no policy paper to guide the implementation of the programme. But he powered through the implementation amidst the imperfections. The challenges, though, have come full circle.

NAPO is his own nemesis. He can be abrasive when he wants to. Now, though, he needs to be serious and be prepared to deal with questions about the wasted efforts in the energy sector, with a huge $2bn deficit in the sector. He must tell us how qualitatively he thinks free SHS has added to the country's GDP and finally how he will deal with aggressive corruption, reduce big daddy expenditure plans, and how and when he will ask his boss, Bawumia, to own up and man up to the economic decadence he has been gloriously a part of. I wish NAPO and his boss well.

BAI/NOQ

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