December Election Choose wisely: Kwabena Frimpong compares NPP’s NAPO and NDC’s Opoku-Agyemang track records

Kwabena Frimpong, Deputy Protocol Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is urging Ghanaians to prioritize competence when choosing their next leaders in the December 7th presidential election. To make an informed decision, Frimpong advises examining the achievements, failures, and vision of the flagbearer and running mate pairs ¹.

Frimpong specifically highlights the contrast between Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NPP) and Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang (NDC), both former Education Ministers. Their track records in education are crucial in assessing their competence. Frimpong notes that Dr. Prempeh’s achievements outshine Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s, whose tenure nearly collapsed Ghana’s educational system.

By evaluating these track records, Ghanaians can make a more informed decision about who is better equipped to lead the country forward.

Below is the full release to all Ghanaians.

Dear Fellow Ghanaians,

𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗢𝗳 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗗𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝗢𝗽𝗼𝗸𝘂 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝘀 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.

I extend warm greetings to you all from my abode. With the December 7th elections approaching, I’d like to share some thoughts on the crucial choice between the leading candidates and their running mates from NPP and NDC.

Let’s focus on the competence of the two running mates, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh and Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, both former Education Ministers. Their track records in education can help us decide who’s best suited to support our nation as Vice President.

By examining their achievements, failures and vision, we can make an informed decision about who will better support Ghana’s growth and development. Let’s choose wisely on December 7th as ‘”Amfo na ɛkyerɛ no ntoasoɔ!'”

Under the leadership of both Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh as Education Ministers of the republic

1. Teachers were paid three(3) months arrears for Two(2) or Three(3) years of work, even sometimes more than that or no matter how long you serve, But Under Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, all newly posted Teachers were paid their full arrears, a few months after Commencing work under the NPP government.
2. Again Under Prof Jane Naana as Education Minister in her own handing over notes, these are some of debts approximately left off by the NDC government which Jane was the education Minister;
   a) Debt of Gh¢9million for Capitation Grant which led Senior High school in the Northern part to close down
   b) Debt of Gh¢4 million Feeding Grants for the 28 Special Schools c) Debt of Gh¢ 14 million for exercise books to basic Schools in Ghana. d) Gh¢ 4 million debt for the supply of Over sized school uniform

But Under NAPO as education Minister, within Three and half years cleared all these arrears and ensured the timely release of capitation and feeding grants for the special schools.

3. She cancelled Teachers Trainees Allowance at a time they were paying only 9000 beneficiaries claiming it was too huge on government’s purse but after Under NAPO, when it was reintroduced over 100, 000( Hundred thousand people) have benefited from the teacher training allowances
4. Yearly Salary increments for Teachers were cancelled Under Prof Jane Naana
5. Under Prof Jane Naana as Education Minister, there were no Teaching and Learning materials(Chalks, Reports Card, Registers, Lessons Notes, etc) in our schools.
6. She presided over the freezing of employment in the education sector but today from basic to Tertiary level over 200,000 teachers have been recruited from 2017 until date.
7. The gargantuan Corruption NSS Secretariat Scandals which was directly Under her supervision.
8. She cancelled Research and Book allowances of our hardworking lectures but it was Reintroduced Under Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh as Education Minister. Again the NPP government put together a stand-alone bill to dedicate enough resources for the fund.
9. She presided over a near-collapse of the scholarships Secretariat but the NPP government under NAPO as Minister resuscitated the scholarship Secretariat into normalcy.
10. She introduced that students pay their own light bills but was cancelled by the NPP government under NAPO.

Instead of pushing for regime change, regime Change media and civil society organizations should prioritize highlighting the competence of candidates, enabling Ghanaians to make informed decisions about their leaders. Unfortunately, the focus has shifted to trivial matters, fueling hatred for the ruling party, reminiscent of 2008 when Ghanaians regretted voting for the NDC just three months after the election.

It’s crucial to focus on substantive issues, such as policy performance, economic management, and development track records for people to know that the NPP has outperformed the NDC in all sectors, including the economy, health, education, and infrastructure.

By concentrating on competence and policy, we can ensure that Ghana’s democratic progress continues, building on 30 years of multiparty democracy. Let’s promote constructive dialogue and informed decision-making.