Franklin Cudjoe has commented that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s selection of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as his running mate was a challenging decision, considering Dr. Prempeh’s history of controversial and divisive public statements on sensitive topics, which may have raised concerns about his suitability for the role.
However, Franklin Cudjoe also acknowledged that Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has demonstrated his capability to be serious-minded and focused when needed, indicating that he has faith in Dr. Prempeh’s potential to rise to the occasion and fulfill his responsibilities as running mate in light of the upcoming elections.
“So it is true, Napo is running mate to Bawumia. Thanks for confirming, folks. I admired his [Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s] professionalism when he was a ranking member of the health committee in Parliament under the late Atta Mills. l had been invited to appear before the health committee meeting he was chairing to testify on certain aspects of the public health bill that were inimical to civil liberties”.
Franklin Cudjoe
He also pointed out that the eventual passage of the bill serves as a testament to Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s ability to deliver results when he applies himself, demonstrating his capacity for effective leadership and dedication to achieving meaningful outcomes.
Franklin Cudjoe revealed that he was among a select few invited by Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh to a meeting in 2017, shortly after the latter’s appointment as Education Minister, to discuss and strategize the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) program, a key campaign promise of the NPP.
However, he acknowledged that the discussion on implementing Free SHS was a challenging and complex conversation, particularly since there was no comprehensive policy framework or guidelines in place at the time to guide the rollout of the program.
Franklin Cudjoe noted that Dr. Opoku Prempeh nonetheless forged ahead with the implementation of the Free SHS program, overcoming the imperfections and challenges, even when he and others advised against it, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the initiative even if misguided.
He observed that the challenges and difficulties that accompanied the implementation of the Free SHS program have now “come full circle”, highlighting the importance of thorough evaluation, assessment, and strategic planning to ensure the program’s sustainability and continued success.
Prempeh’s Greatest Adversary Is Himself- Franklin Cudjoe
Furthermore, Franklin Cudjoe declared emphatically that Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s greatest adversary is himself, suggesting that Prempeh’s own actions and decisions have led to his biggest challenges, rather than external factors.
“He can be abrasive when he wants to. Now though, he needs to be serious and be prepared to deal with questions about the wasted efforts in the energy sector, with a huge $2bn deficit in the sector. He must tell us how qualitatively he thinks free SHS has added to the country’s GDP”.
Franklin Cudjoe
Franklin Cudjoe also called on Dr. Opoku Prempeh to provide a clear explanation and outline a comprehensive plan for his strategy for tackling corruption and a plan to reduce government spending and improve fiscal responsibility.
He urged Dr. Opoku Prempeh to advise his superior, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to take responsibility and acknowledge his role in the economic challenges the country is facing, and to publicly own up to his actions.
Franklin Cudjoe also extended his best wishes to Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh and his superior, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for their future endeavors.
Meanwhile, the NPP affirmed that the selection of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the running mate was an excellent choice for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the party’s presidential candidate.
The party confidently declared that the Bawumia-Prempeh ticket is a formidable combination that will lead the party to a resounding victory, ultimately achieving their goal of breaking the “eight-year” political cycle.
