The former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Vice Presidential Candidate, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has cautioned political leaders over promises made to the electorate, stressing that such commitments must be fulfilled or risk eroding public trust and political relevance.
According to him, the effectiveness of governments is ultimately measured by their ability to translate campaign promises into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.
Speaking at the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana, Dr. Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, called for greater focus on leadership development and governance systems that promote accountability and effective service delivery.
“Governance is to ensure that what the leaders say, they can see is executed in their lives. People who are leaders or want to be leaders, what they say must matter,” he said.
He cited the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy; he argued that the policy’s successful delivery helped sustain public confidence in the NPP government.
The former Energy Minister stressed that leadership carries significant responsibility, particularly under Ghana’s constitutional framework, which vests extensive executive authority in the presidency.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh further emphasised that presidents can only succeed when supported by competent ministers and effective institutions capable of delivering on government policies and programmes.
He noted that national resources and governance structures are entrusted to elected leaders, making it imperative for those in office to take their responsibilities seriously.
He warned that while political parties may win elections, failure to meet citizens’ expectations can quickly lead to public disappointment and disillusionment.
