Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 elections, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, has emphasized that no presidential candidate in Ghana’s electoral history has won on their first attempt.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh highlighted that the NPP’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, gave his best effort during the campaign. However, he acknowledged that the ultimate decision rests with the people of Ghana, who chose the National Democratic Congress (NDC) this time.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh expressed his unwavering commitment to supporting Dr. Bawumia in future elections. He stated if Dr. Bawumia decides to contest again in 2028 and he is called upon to assist as his running mate, he will be ready and willing to give his all because history shows that no presidential candidate in Ghana has won on their first attempt.
He cited historical examples to support his claim, noting that former President John Agyekum Kufuor won on his second attempt, the late President John Evans Atta Mills succeeded on his third, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also secured victory on his third attempt. Even President John Mahama, he recalled, has contested four times in his political career. According to NAPO, Dr. Bawumia losing on his first attempt is not unusual in the Ghanaian political landscape.
Looking ahead, Dr. Opoku Prempeh shifted the focus to the expectations of Ghanaians following the NDC’s victory. He emphasized that Ghanaians are eager to see the promises made during the campaign come to fruition after January 7, 2025. He outlined some of these expectations, stating that from January 7, 2025, Ghanaians are looking forward to seeing the cedi stabilize at 5 to the dollar, petrol prices drop to GHC10, and every Ghanaian receiving their ‘nkokɔ nkitinkiti’ (local chicks) generate income.
“From 7th January we are looking forward to Ghc5 to a dollar, we are looking for every Ghanaian to get ‘nkokɔ nkitinkiti’ to rear so that money comes to their pocket, from 7th January we are expecting the petrol price to come down to 10 cedis, those are the expectations of what John Mahama told us he’s going to do”, he said.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh stressed that these promises are now the benchmark by which Ghanaians will measure the success of the NDC administration.
