NAPO is a discredited running mate – Benjamin Quashie

Benjamin
Kofi
Quashie,
Chairman
of
the
National
Democratic
Congress
(NDC)
South
Africa
Council
of
Elders,
has
raised
several
concerns
about
Energy
Minister,
Dr
Matthew
Opoku
Prempeh’s
past
controversies
and
negative
attributes.

He
has
questioned
the
suitability
of
Opoku
Prempeh
commonly
referred
to
as
NAPO
for
the
running
mate
position.

In
an
interview
after
the
official
confirmation
of
NAPO
as
Dr
Bawumia’s
running
mate,
Mr
Quashie
reflected
on
NAPO’s
tenure
as
the
Minister
of
Education,
a
period
marked
by
widespread
criticism
and
frequent
clashes
with
teacher
unions
and
stakeholders.

“All
these
were
due
to
his
confrontational
leadership
style.
His
approach
created
a
hostile
working
environment,
leading
to
strikes
and
disruptions
that
negatively
impacted
the
education
system,”
he
said.

Mr
Quashie
expressed
concern
over
allegations
of
financial
mismanagement
during
NAPO’s
time
as
the
Minister
of
Education.

He
pointed
to
the
procurement
of
educational
materials,
such
as
mathematical
sets
and
past
question
papers,
at
inflated
prices.
This,
he
said,
raises
doubts
about
NAPO’s
financial
prudence,
especially
if
he
becomes
the
chairman
of
the
Economic
Management
Team
in
the
future.

Mr
Quashie
also
criticised
the
implementation
of
some
controversial
policies
during
NAPO’s
tenure,
which
he
claimed
were
poorly
executed.

He
cited
the
introduction
of
the
double-track
system
in
Senior
High
Schools
(SHSs)
as
an
example.
He
argued
that
the
policy
was
implemented
hastily,
without
proper
structures
in
place,
leading
to
a
decline
in
the
quality
of
education.

Reflecting
on
Napo’s
past
statements,
Mr
Quashie
recalled
comments
by
the
Energy
Minister
suggesting
that
he
would
organise
a
demonstration
in
the
Ashanti
region
against
his
own
government
if
the
budgetary
allocation
is
made
to
cater
for
the
devastating
tidal
wave
situation
in
Keta
in
the
Volta
Region.

“How
is
he
going
to
campaign
in
the
Volta
region
after
this
tribalistic
outburst?
The
vice
president
is
supposed
to
act
as
the
father
of
the
nation
in
the
absence
of
the
President,
so
how
can
this
person
be
trusted
as
a
father
for
all?
I
really
shudder
for
my
people
in
the
Volta
region
and
other
parts
of
the
country,”
Mr.
Quashie
said.

Mr
Quashie
joined
critics
in
pointing
out
Napo’s
failure
to
acknowledge
the
recent
power
crisis,
referring
to
concerned
Ghanaians
as
evils
and
suggesting
people
draw
their
own
“dumsor”
timetable.

He
also
highlighted
the
controversial
introduction
of
Comprehensive
Sexuality
Education
(CSE)
into
the
basic
education
curriculum
as
one
of
the
running
mate’s
major
pitfalls.

“NAPO’s
tenure
in
various
capacities
has
been
marked
by
several
controversies
that
question
his
suitability
for
the
vice-presidential
position.
His
association
with
the
“dumsor”
timetable,
the
incident
involving
students
defecating
in
polythene
bags,
the
budgetary
issues
related
to
the
Keta
tidal
wave
disaster,
and
the
introduction
of
a
pro-LGBTQ
curriculum
in
basic
schools
have
collectively
painted
a
picture
of
a
leader
struggling
to
address
critical
issues
effectively
and
empathetically.

“These
negative
attributes
and
incidents
contribute
to
the
narrative
that
Dr
Matthew
Opoku
Prempeh
is
a
discredited
person
who
lacks
the
necessary
qualities
and
judgment
required
for
the
high
office
of
vice
president,”
Mr
Quashie
asserted.