The 2024 Vice-Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Napo), has positioned his extensive public service career not as a personal ambition but as a generational mandate rooted in his family’s deep, decades-long history in Ghanaian politics.
In a reflective interview on Joy News about life after the 2024 General Elections, Dr. Prempeh, a four-term Member of Parliament and two-time Cabinet Minister, articulated his core philosophy: that political participation must fundamentally be about adding demonstrable value to the nation.
A Heritage of Public Service
Dr. Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, stressed that he was raised in an environment that instilled a non-negotiable commitment to the public good.
His lineage, which includes being a grandson of the 14th Asantehene, Otumfuo Agyemang Prempeh II, and a nephew of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, provided a framework for political engagement beyond mere participation.
“I was brought up in a very politically aware family with a history of decades of partisan politics or active political life. That’s how I was brought up. And I was brought up to cherish one thing: public service and not only public serving, bringing value through public service and for public service,” he stated.
He further elaborated on this ethos of impact:
“Meaning you just don’t participate; you participate with the intention of making an impact. That is how I was brought up. Brought up to prove to myself that I can sit at the table with decision-makers and not only the elderly but true decision-makers.”
Track Record: Value Addition in Education and Energy
Dr. Prempeh’s public record spans over a decade and a half, demonstrating a commitment to high-impact policy reforms:
- Parliamentary Tenure (2009–2025): He served four consecutive terms as MP for Manhyia South (previously Manhyia), winning with commanding majorities, including a landslide 87.17% of the votes cast in the 2016 General Elections.
- Minister of Education (2017–2021): During his tenure, he successfully spearheaded the implementation of the government’s flagship Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme, which saw student enrolment increase from approximately 800,000 in 2016 to over 1.2 million by 2019, fundamentally expanding access to secondary education. His reforms also focused on comprehensive curriculum changes and the mainstreaming of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
- Minister of Energy (2021–2024): In this role, he was credited with stabilizing the power sector, overseeing the promotion of renewable energy projects like the Kaleo/Lawra Solar Project, and leading efforts to increase efficiency in the energy industry through the Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP), aimed at resolving Ghana’s substantial energy sector debt.
His dedication to “making an impact” earned him several accolades, including the 2020 Harvard Ministerial Medal of Achievement in recognition of his significant work in strengthening public education.
Dr. Prempeh resigned from his ministerial post in July 2024 to dedicate his efforts to the NPP’s campaign as the Vice-Presidential Candidate.
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Source: myjoyonline.com
