Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, will officially introduce his running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, today.
According to reports, there would be a grand durbar of chiefs and people of Asanteman at the Nana Afia Kobi Park inside the Manhyia Palace, to welcome the NPP presidential candidate’s delegation.
Dr. Bawumia would seek the Asantehene’s blessings, advice and support as he and Dr. Prempeh, affectionately called ‘Napo’, begin to campaign for votes across the country.
From the Manhyia Palace, Dr. Bawumia would then officially introduce his running mate to Asanteman and the entire country at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi, where a sizable crowd would converge.
Dr. Bawumia introduced Napo to the NPP National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council (NC) in Accra last week, where he (Napo) was unanimously accepted by the two powerful bodies in the NPP.
The leadership of the ruling political party then decided that the official inauguration of Napo as the NPP vice presidential candidate should take place in Kumasi.
Dr. Bawumia, who respects tradition, has decided that before Napo would be introduced to the citizenry, the Asantehene and his chiefs should be informed first at his palace as a sign of respect.
Napo, until his appointment as the NPP vice presidential candidate, served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Manhyia South Constituency in Kumasi from 2009 till date.
He is also the current Minister of Energy, having previously served as the Minister of Education under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi