Manasseh Azure’s latest book, entitled “The President Ghana Never Got”, has exposed some surprising revelations about President Akufo-Addo’s choice of running mate.
The book discloses that the President was taken aback to learn about Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s selection for running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Napo), from sources other than Dr. Bawumia himself.
Reports from the book indicate that the Asantehene was aware of Dr Bawumia’s running mate choice two months prior to President Akufo-Addo being informed.
In fact, three weeks before Dr Bawumia informed the President, the Asantehene had already mentioned it to him, leaving Akufo-Addo surprised to hear the news from an external source.
Before the official announcement, Dr Bawumia had already informed former President John Agyekum Kufuor about his running mate choice, while Akufo-Addo’s family had hoped for Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum to be selected.
Nonetheless, others had expressed interest in the position, including Napo and the late John Kumah, who tragically passed away under suspicious circumstances.
A poll commissioned by the President a week before Dr Bawumia’s announcement revealed that Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh was the top choice for running mate with 76.3% approval.
However, the leak of this information to the media before reaching the President caused discontent.
The book suggests that the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace held more secure information about Dr Bawumia’s choice than Akufo-Addo’s inner circle or the state intelligence agency.
Dr Bawumia’s initial preference for running mate was said to be the former chairman of the church of Pentecost, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, rather than Napo.
The news of Dr Bawumia’s running mate was first disclosed on Asaase Radio the morning after a private meeting between him and the President – a meeting with no other outside parties present.
Asaase Radio, owned by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, the President’s cousin, attributed the information to “sources close to the office of the president,” which undermined Dr Bawumia’s consultations with the NPP council of elders.
