Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the party’s flagbearer, nominated a running partner candidacy, but Andy Appiah-Kubi, a member of the National Council of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has voiced his displeasure of the choice.
The Asante Akim North Member of Parliament (MP) claims that Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Energy Minister, is not the best candidate to run alongside the party’s flagbearer in the impending general elections of 2024.
His comments follow Dr. Bawumia’s Tuesday, June 25, presentation of Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s name to President Akufo-Addo as his preferred running mate.
Earlier on here were reports that Vice President Dr. Bawumia met with President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House on Tuesday night to present his choice. The President offered advice but accepted Dr. Bawumia’s decision. However, Asante Akim North MP opposed the choice, arguing that Mr. Opoku Prempeh is not widely acceptable within the NPP and cannot campaign effectively in many constituencies.
He said that he would probably select somebody more acceptable to parliamentarians, noting that the party should find somebody who, if the presidential candidate is not available, would hold the hand of a Member of Parliament and campaign in that member’s constituency.
The MP insisted:
“I wouldn’t speak to a majority because we have not been consulted as a caucus for us to state our position. But for me, Appiah-Kubi, you can solicit my view on that. If it were up to me to choose, I wouldn’t choose him. He is not my preference. ‘Appiah-Kubi is saying that he is not my preference’, but that doesn’t mean he is not qualified,”
“Well, if there was an opportunity like that, I would express a candidate, however acceptable otherwise, to our presidential candidate.”
“I would want somebody who would be open with the people on the ground, who would be able to deliver the votes, who would submit to the presidency, and who would be important in bringing Parliament closer to the executive.”
“I don’t see that happening in this equation. He cannot hold my hand, so why would I say that I prefer him? He cannot hold my hand,”
Read Also: Bawumia Presents NAPO To Akufo-Addo As Choice Of Running Mate
