Energy Minister leads BNI survey as preferred choice to partner Bawumia

A comprehensive survey, conducted by the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) formerly called Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has put Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, ahead as preferred choice to partner the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, as running mate for the December 7, elections.

The survey, which sampled views of NPP members across the country, saw Dr Opoku Prempeh, affectionately called ‘NAPO’ emerged as favorite over other contenders, including Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, former Chairman of Pentecost Church, Apostle Opoku Onyinah, the Minister of Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, among others.

The confidential NIB report, also indicated that, a significant number of the respondents, nearly 84percent see Dr Opoku Prempeh, as the perfect choice, as a result of his charisma and popularity among party members.

According to the Intelligence Assessment Report, Dr Prempeh, who doubles as Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South in the Ashanti Region, secured a whopping 76.2percent of the responses from executives polled.

The survey engaged 5,116 NPP delegates nationwide, including national, regional, constituency, and polling station executives, using the party’s delegates album to ensure a representatives sample.

Following him at a distance, was the Minister of Education and MP for Bosomtwe, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, who garnered 10.16percent.

Excerpts of the Executive Summary of the report, sighted by The Anchor reads: “Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, commonly known as NAPO, who currently serves as the Minister of Energy and Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, secured 76.2% of the responses from executives polled, making him the leading candidate for the position of running mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s presidential candidate for the 2024 general elections (refer to Figure 1)”.

It said, “Following him is Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education and MP for the Bosomtwe constituency, who garnered 10.1% of the responses from the polled executives.

Other notable personalities the delegates consider as potential running mates include Apostle Opoku Onyinah, former Chairman of the Pentecost Church of Ghana, and Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Agriculture and MP for Abetifi Constituency”.

It said about 88% believe the Manhyia South constituency is the party’s choice to pair with Dr. Bawumia. Moreover, 94% of respondents said the running mate nominee should be male. However, 89% stated they would accept whoever Dr. Bawumia selects as his running mate.

The Energy Minister, is preferred among the constituency and polling station executives, making the largest segment of the sample corresponding to 36.2% and 32.6 % respectively.

“The overwhelming majority of respondents (92.9%) believe that the running mate should be selected from the Ashanti region, widely regarded as the party’s stronghold.

Moreover, 94% of respondents, said the running mate nominee should be male. However, 89% stated they would accept whoever Dr Bawumia selects as his running mate”.

In their recommendation and conclusion, the NIB, said the nomination of Dr Opoku Prempeh, resonates well with the grassroots of the NPP and this will potentially encourage party unity, which is essential for enhancing the chances of the flagbearer, particularly in the Ashanti region, the NPP’s stronghold.

“This conclusion is reinforced by an early survey conducted by the NIB in January 2024, which assessed electorates choice of running mate across Ghana. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh was preferred among voters for the choice of running mate to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Given Dr Prempeh’s current role as the Minister of Energy, the ongoing power crises in Ghana could impact his candidacy. Therefore, the Government may need to implement necessary measures to solidify his competence in managing the energy sector, thereby enhancing the party’s prospects in the 2024 general elections”.

The survey, warned the flagbearer to be cautious of selecting Dr Prempeh, citing the current electricity challenges which it believed could negatively affect his selection.

“Given Dr Prempeh’s current role as the Minister of Energy, the ongoing power crises in Ghana could impact his candidacy. Therefore, the government may need to implement necessary

measures to solidify his competence in managing the energy sector, thereby enhancing the party’s prospects in the 2024 general elections.”

The outcome of the survey, puts into proper perspective months of speculations in the media and within the NPP.

In the past, even though the MP and Minister, had been discussed roundly as the likely candidate, other names that were not even mentioned in the NIB survey, also came up strongly.

Some of the names were, Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, former Majority Leader, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the late Deputy Finance Minister Dr John Kumah, vice chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Prof Rita Akosua Dickson, said to be the candidate of former president Kufuor and many others had their names mentioned.

His constituency is not merely a stronghold of the party, but actually delivered 83 per cent of the presidential votes to the NPP in the 2020 elections.

Dr Prempeh, as former Minister of Education, is credited with the bold implementation of the Free Senior High School flagship education policy of the government, strongly supported by his then deputy, Dr Adutwum.

Any moment from now, Dr Bawumia, who has started his campaign in earnest, will likely be announcing his running mate.

Source: Anchorghana.com