Matthew Opoku Prempeh
{{Short description|Ghanaian politician and medical doctor}}
{{Use Ghanaian English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Hon. Dr,
| name = Matthew Opoku Prempeh
| honorific-suffix =
| image = MATTHEW OPOKU PREMPEH.jpg
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| alma_mater = Prempeh College
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Kennedy School of Government
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|05|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Pakyi No 2, Ghana
| order =
| office = Former Member of Parliament for Manhyia South Constituency
| term_start = 7 January 2009
| term_end = 7 January 2025
| office1 = Minister of Energy
| termstart1 = 7 January 2021 - 2024
| predecessor1 = John Peter Amewu
| office2 = Minister of Education
| termstart2 = 10 January 2017
| termend2 = 6 January 2021
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| birthname = Matthew Opoku Prempeh
| citizenship =
| nationality = Ghanaian
| party = New Patriotic Party
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| occupation = Politician
| profession = Medical doctor
| cabinet =
| committees = Defense and Interior Committee; Appointments Committee
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Matthew Opoku Prempeh (born 23 May 1968) is a Ghanaian medical doctor and politician. He was the vice presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=Ghana's presidential candidate Bawumia chooses energy minister as running mate |url=https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/05/ghanas-presidential-candidate-bawumia-chooses-energy-minister-as-running-mate/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Africanews |language=en}} He is a former Member of Parliament for the Manhyia South Constituency and a former Minister of Education in Ghana.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=NAPO reacts to $1.2M World Bank cash controversy |url=https://citinewsroom.com/2022/05/napo-reacts-to-1-2m-world-bank-cash-controversy/ |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana |language=en-US}} He is popularly known as NAPO, an acronym for his traditional name, Nana Poku.{{Cite web|url=http://citifmonline.com/2017/01/matthew-opoku-prempeh-is-minister-designate-for-education/|title=Matthew Opoku Prempeh is Minister designate for Education|date=2017-01-10|website=Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-27}}{{Cite web|date=2020-07-18|title=Napo Leads Covid-19 Stigma Fight|url=https://dailyguidenetwork.com/napo-leads-covid-19-stigma-fight/|access-date=2020-07-19|website=DailyGuide Network|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Matthew Opoku Prempeh names library complex after late Queen Mother of Ashanti Kingdom |url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/1170248/matthew-opoku-prempeh-names-library-complex-after.html |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=Modern Ghana |language=en}} He also served as the Minister of Energy from 2021 to 2024.{{cite web |title=Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh |url=https://www.energymin.gov.gh/hon-matthew-opoku-prempeh |access-date=18 March 2021}}{{Cite web|title=Projects by government to solve energy crisis near completion – Matthew Opoku Prempeh - MyJoyOnline.com|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/projects-by-government-to-solve-energy-crisis-near-completion-matthew-opoku-prempeh/|access-date=2021-05-17|website=www.myjoyonline.com|date=16 May 2021 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh {{!}} Ministry of Energy |url=https://www.energymin.gov.gh/hon-matthew-opoku-prempeh |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=www.energymin.gov.gh}}{{Cite web |title=Relocation of Ameri plant will stabilise power - Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh |url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/relocation-of-ameri-plant-will-stabilise-power-dr-matthew-opoku-prempeh.html |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=Graphic Online |language=en-gb}}
Early life and education
Matthew Opoku Prempeh was born on 23 May 1968 in Ashanti New Town, a suburb of Kumasi, and hails from Pakyi No. 2 in the Ashanti Region.{{Cite web |title=Parliament of Ghana |url=https://www.parliament.gh/mps?mp=144 |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=www.parliament.gh}} Born to Oheneba Kwame Kyeretwie and Madam Elizabeth Akosua Nyarko, NAPO’s father was one of the many sons of the 14th Asantehene, Otumfuo Agyemang Prempeh II.{{Cite web |title=All you need to know about the man Nana Poku alias NAPO |url=https://3news.com/opinion/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-man-nana-poku-alias-napo/|access-date=2024-07-11 |website=3News}}
He started his basic education at KNUST Primary and continued to Prempeh College in Kumasi, Ashanti Region of Ghana, for his middle school education.{{Cite web |date=2018-08-13 |title=Matthew Opoku Prempeh: All you need to know about the trained medical doctor |url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/communities/student/matthew-opoku-prempeh-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-trained-medical-doctor/gzffqnm |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Pulse Ghana}}
He studied Human Biology and Medicine at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and completed his MB CHB in 1994. He continued with post-graduate studies in MSc. Clinical Epidemiology at the Netherlands Institute of Health Sciences in 1998{{Cite web |title=H.E. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh |url=https://www.wise-qatar.org/biography/matthew-opoku-prempeh/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Wise |language=en-US}} and at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University where he studied Leadership and Government(certificate course).{{Cite web|last=Annang|first=Adolphus|title=Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh – Education - Government of Ghana|url=http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/governance/ministers/3414-dr-matthew-opoku-prempeh-education|access-date=2017-05-13|website=www.ghana.gov.gh|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|title=Hon Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh - Speakers|url=https://www.theewf.org/speakers/view/hon-dr-matthew-opoku-prempeh|access-date=2020-12-07|website=Education World Forum|language=en}} In 2002, he pursued postgraduate training in surgery in the UK (MRCS).
Career
Prior to entering parliament, Prempeh served as CEO of Keyedmap Security Services Limited from 2004 to 2009. He is also a medical doctor {{Cite web|title=Ghana MPs - MP Details - Prempeh, Matthew Opoku (Dr)|url=http://www.ghanamps.com/mps/details.php?id=217|access-date=2020-01-25|website=www.ghanamps.com}} and served as a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2003.{{Cite web |title=Parliament of Ghana |url=http://www.parliament.gh/mps?mp=165 |access-date=2017-05-13 |website=www.parliament.gh}}
Politics
= Member of parliament =
As a Member of Parliament, he represented Manhyia South in Kumasi, formerly Manhyia Constituency. He was first elected to parliament in 2008 and got re-elected in 2012. In 2016, he secured a third term in Parliament by obtaining 35,958 votes, or 87.17% of the total valid votes cast in the constituency.{{Cite web|title=Ghana Election 2016 Results - Manhyia South Constituency|url=http://ghanaelections.peacefmonline.com/pages/2016/ashanti/28/|access-date=2017-05-13|website=Peace FM}} Prempeh again contested his seat in the 2020 Ghanaian general election and won by a large margin.{{Cite web|title=Manhyia South Constituency Results - Election 2020|url=http://ghanaelections.peacefmonline.com/pages/2020/ashanti/manhyia_south/|access-date=2020-12-11|website=Peace FM}} Prempeh won his party's internal election to contest the 2024 elections as Parliamentary candidate, but stepped down following his nomination as Vice Presidential Candidate of the NPP by Mahamudu Bawumia.{{Cite web |title=Bawumia picks NAPO, submits name as running mate to Akufo-Addo |url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/1322705/bawumia-picks-napo-submits-name-as-running-mate.html}} Prempeh is a member of the Defense and Interior Committee and also of the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
= Minister of Education =
He was appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo on 10 January 2017 to serve as Minister for Education in Ghana. He served in that role for 4 years until 6 January 2021 when the tenure of the president and his ministers ended.
In May 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo named Prempeh as one of the nineteen ministers in his cabinet. The names of the 19 ministers were submitted to Parliament and announced by Speaker, Mike Ocquaye. As a Cabinet minister, Prempeh was part of the inner circle of the president and helped in making key decisions for the country.{{cite web|title=Arts Minister Catherine Afeku makes it to Cabinet|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Arts-Minister-Catherine-Afeku-makes-it-to-Cabinet-542839|website=ghanaweb.com|publisher=ghanaweb|accessdate=7 July 2017}}
Prempeh also contributed to the educational sector of Ghana as a Minister of Education, such as improving the infrastructure, promoting vocational and technical education (TVET), and leading the implementation of the government's free senior high school policy.{{Cite web|title=We've initiated 1,011 SHS projects since 2017— NAPO|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/education/ghana-news-we-ve-initiated-1-011-shs-projects-since-2017-napo.html|access-date=2020-12-07|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-14|title=We've invested over $800 million in education sector since 2017 – Matthew Opoku Prempeh|url=https://citinewsroom.com/2020/10/weve-invested-over-800-million-in-education-sector-since-2017-matthew-opoku-prempeh/|access-date=2020-12-08|website=Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana|language=en-US}}
= Minister of Energy =
After the NPP victory in the 2020 elections, Prempeh was appointed Minister for Energy. He served in this role from 2021 until July 2024 when he resigned to concentrate on campaigning for the general election following his selection as Vice Presidential candidate too Mahamudu Bawumia.{{Cite web |title=Akufo-Addo Accepts Napo's resignation as Energy Minister |url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/president-akufo-addo-accepts-napos-resignation-as-energy-minister.html#:~:text=President%20Akufo%2DAddo%20accepts%20Napo's%20resignation%20as%20Energy%20Minister,-Graphic.com.gh&text=President%20Akufo%2DAddo%20has%20accepted,effect%20from%20July%2018%2C%202024.}}
= 2024 General Elections =
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia selected Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as his running mate for the 2024 general elections.{{Cite web |title=Vice President Bawumia officially unveils running mate |url=https://bawumia.com/news/vice-president-bawumia-officially-unveils-running-mate/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia |language=en-US}} His appointment as the vice presidential candidate was also endorsed by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).{{Cite web |date=2024-07-04 |title=Profile of Bawumia's running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh - MyJoyOnline |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/profile-of-bawumias-running-mate-dr-matthew-opoku-prempeh/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}}
Honours
In May 2021, the University of Education Winneba conferred on him an Honorary Doctorate Degree.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-21 |title=UCC to honour Dr Opoku Prempeh on July 29 |url=https://citinewsroom.com/2023/07/ucc-to-honour-dr-opoku-prempeh-on-july-29/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana |language=en-US}} In July 2021, the University of Professional Studies also awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. The University of Cape Coast is the latest institution to recognize Dr. Prempeh’s contributions to the development of Ghana and his immense service to the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.{{Cite web |title=News |url=https://ucc.edu.gh/news/ucc-honours-dr-matthew-opoku-prempeh |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=University of Cape Coast |language=en}} In May 2022, a group by the name of Friends of NAPO presented some educational materials to schools in the Manhyia South Constituency to mark his 54th birthday.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-24 |title=Group donates to schools to mark NAPO's 54th birthday |url=https://citinewsroom.com/2022/05/group-donates-to-schools-to-mark-napos-54th-birthday/ |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana |language=en-US}} Prempeh College named a dormitory block after him on 17 June 2023.{{Cite web|title=Prempeh College Honors Energy Minister; Names Dormitory 'Matthew Opoku Prempeh House' After Him |url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/education/202306/489204.php |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Peacefmonline.com}}
In November 2024, a newly constructed hostel at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) was named after him in recognition of his contributions to education.https://www.myjoyonline.com/upsa-names-hostel-after-napo-for-outstanding-contributions-to-education/
References
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Category:Ministers for education of Ghana
Category:Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology alumni
Category:Cabinet ministers of Ghana
Category:Ghanaian MPs 2009–2013
Category:Ghanaian MPs 2013–2017
Category:Ghanaian MPs 2017–2021
Category:Prempeh College alumni
Category:Ghanaian MPs 2021–2025
Category:Ghanaian medical doctors
Category:New Patriotic Party politicians
Category:People from Ashanti Region
Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni