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A group affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP), known as the Concerned NPP Grassroot and Executives Group, has petitioned the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) to reject Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known as Napo, as the potential running mate for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the governing party’s 2024 presidential candidate.
Holding placards with various inscriptions, the group marched on Monday (1 July), to Dr. Bawumia’s campaign office in Asokwa, Kumasi, to voice their demands.
“We believe that someone wants to impose the running mate on our flagbearer”, said Ebenezer Nyamekye, the Convener of the group.
“That is why we are telling him that he should be a man of his own and choose a candidate of his interest. We, the grassroots, believe that our candidate is humble, and for that matter, we need a candidate who can also serve him well. Just like former Vice President Aliu Mahama served John Agyekum Kufuor”, he stated.
Gyamfi further elaborated, “That is the reason we are appealing to our flagbearer to choose a candidate who will be accepted by Ghanaians when it comes to humility and respect. Even as Energy Minister, when there were calls for timetables, look at what he said.
“That is why we think that the name you are saying is unfit for the running mate slot. We know the National Executive Council will listen to us and do the needful. We need a candidate who the grassroots can sell, and that is why we want the NEC to listen to us and act on this petition.”
The Concerned NPP Grassroot and Executives Group are members who belong to the governing party at the polling station and constituency levels across the Ashanti Region.
Their demonstration comes as the NEC prepares to hold an emergency meeting in the coming days to decide on the flagbearer’s choice for running mate.
Receiving the petition on behalf of the party, the Ashanti Regional Communications Officer of the NPP, Paul Yandoh, assured that the petition would be forwarded to the appropriate quarters for further action.