National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has expressed optimism that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) decision to pair Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, known as NAPO, with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will benefit the NDC in the upcoming December 7 elections.
In an interview on CTV, on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Mr. Nketia suggested that NAPO’s selection is advantageous to the NDC due to his perceived arrogance which he believes will weaken the NPP’s position.
He compared the situation to playing football against a team with a goalkeeper who has a broken hand, implying that the choice of NAPO has left the NPP at a disadvantage.
“Everyone knows NAPO is arrogant and disrespectful that is why the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II advised him to prove his critics wrong and not make Bawumia regret choosing him as running mate. However, shortly after receiving this advice, he went on a campaign platform and showed disrespect towards Kwame Nkrumah” he said.
Mr. Nketia also criticized the NPP’s use of NAPO’s royal lineage as a campaign strategy. He argued that the NDC values equality and does not prioritize royal heritage in leadership selections.
He pointed out that Akan tradition follows a matrilineal system of inheritance, suggesting that despite his grandfather’s status as an Asantehene, NAPO is not a true royal.
“NAPO and his supporters are making a mistake by emphasizing his royal lineage in their campaign,” Mr. Nketiah remarked. “In the NDC, we believe in constitutional equality, and we don’t care about a candidate’s royal background as long as they meet the constitutional requirements of being Ghanaian. In Akan tradition, inheritance is matrilineal, so NAPO is not considered a true royal despite his grandfather’s title.”
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