The Political Science and History Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has accused Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh commonly known as NAPO, running mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, of contributing to Bawumia’s defeat in the 2024 presidential election.
Backing their claims, the department cited research conducted by the History Students Association and the Political Scientists Association Developmental Forum, which revealed that 85.45% of respondents were unaware of Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s candidacy. However, opinions on his influence were divided.
While 47.29% of respondents believed that Dr Opoku Prempeh negatively impacted the NPP’s campaign, 32.24% viewed his influence positively.
When asked about satisfaction with Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s performance, 36.31% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, 53.14% preferred former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum as the ideal running mate, with 58.56% believing he would have had a positive impact on the campaign.
The study aimed to evaluate public perceptions of Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s candidacy and assess how different running mates could have influenced the electoral success of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The analysis considered factors such as economic commentary, candidate performance, and voter preferences to provide a comprehensive overview of the political landscape.
A survey was conducted with a sample of 1,402 respondents across Ghana, using a mixed-method approach that combined online and face-to-face questionnaires to ensure broad demographic representation.
Lead researcher, Professor Adu Gyamfi, urged the NPP leadership to draw lessons from the study and reflect on the party’s performance in the 2024 elections.
