Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’
ENERGY MINISTER, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s good works when he was at the Education Ministry has been recognised in the global arena.
His track record at the helm of the Education Ministry in the last four years where he supervised the successful implementation of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy and other policies, seems to have also boosted his international ratings.
The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) believes that Dr. Prempeh aka ‘Napo’ during his tenure as Education Minister helped to boost quality education and his expertise needed to be tapped for other countries.
In this regard, the UN SDSN has officially invited Napo to serve on its Mission 4.7 High-Level Advisory Group as an Honourary and Meritorious Member, so that he could continue to bring his rich experience to bear for the benefit of humanity.
“This invitation is only extended to those who have been extraordinary to supporting target 4.7 and quality education globally. This membership enables you to still continue your engagement with Mission 4.7 as the new Minister of Energy for Ghana,” the UN SDSN invitation letter said.
The invitation letter, dated June 23, 2021, which has been sighted by the DAILY GUIDE, was co-signed by Dr. Jeffrey D. Sachs, President of the SDSN and Ms. Stefania Gianini, Assistant Secretary-General of UNESCO.
“Mission 4.7 High-Level Advisory Group is a new global initiative to put into practice the bold vision articulated by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on education and Target 4.7,” the letter said.
It is significant to note that under Napo’s leadership as Education Minister, Ghana’s education sector chalked massive successes as he introduced several policies, which significantly improved the sector.
Among Napo’s countless achievements included the smooth introduction of the Free SHS policy, which saw the student population of the country’s Senior High Schools jump from 800,000 in 2016 to over 1.2 million by the time he left office in 2021.
Also, he successfully implemented a new curriculum for basic schools, TVET and teacher reforms.
In May 2021, Dr. Prempeh was conferred with an honourary Doctor of Letters Degree by the University of Education, Winneba.
In 2017 and 2018, he was voted Best Minister of the President Akufo-Addo-led NPP administration.
He was also the recipient of the 2020 Harvard Ministerial Medal of Achievement, in recognition of his exemplary leadership style.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi