NIB survey tips Dr Opoku Prempeh to partner Dr Bawumia

A survey by the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) has revealed that the Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, is widely preferred among party members to be a running mate to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for the 2024 general election. 

It said there was a strong consensus that the running mate should be selected from the Ashanti Region. Dr Opoku Prempeh, the survey established, was highly preferred as the best pair for Dr Bawumia “due to his popularity and strong connections with the grassroots of the party.”

The NIB conducted the nationwide survey from June 12 to June 14, 2024, which targeted NPP delegates, including national, regional, constituency and polling station executives, utilising the party's delegates album to ensure a representative sample.

The survey polled 5,116 party executives. It, however, said the ongoing power crises in the country 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 election,” it said.

The report said Dr Opoku Prempeh’s nomination for the position of running mate resonated well with the grassroots. “This will potentially foster party unity essential for enhancing Dr Bawumia’s chances, particularly in the Ashanti Region, a stronghold of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

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

Results

It said Dr Opoku Prempeh, commonly known as NAPO, who is also the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, secured 76.2 per cent of the responses from executives polled, making him the leading candidate for the position of running mate to Dr Bawumia.

It said the Minister of Education and MP for Bosomtwe, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, garnered 10.1 per cent of the responses from the polled executives.

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

 Among the two leading top aspirants for the position, 38.8 per cent of the constituency executives identified Dr Opoku Prempeh as their preference for Dr Bawumia in the 2024 general election. Additionally, 32.6 per cent of polling station executives preferred Dr Opoku Prempeh.

The overwhelming majority of respondents, 92.9 per cent believe that the running mate should be selected from the Ashanti Region, widely regarded as the party's stronghold.