Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Running Mate to Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Vice Presidential Candidate of the NPP, has strongly condemned what he described as religious bigotry that is gaining notoriety in our body politics ahead of election 2024, be it from the Clergy or the Politicians.
He cited the dangers that this creeping culture of religious intolerance poses to Ghana’s enviable democracy as well as the prevailing religious harmony and the stability of the country.
According to Dr. Prempeh who was speaking at a meeting with Zongo Chiefs at Alaba in the Manhyia South Constituency on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, clergymen and politicians who campaign based on religion rather than their candidates’ vision and competence, should be shunned by the voters, because they are nation-wreckers.
Dr. Prempeh noted that, “political campaigns must be issues-based. Governance is a serious business, requiring leaders who are competent, hardworking, results-driven and visionary. Poverty does not know religion. Joblessness does not know religion. Equally, good or bad governance does not know religion. Why then should religion be the yardstick for electing our leaders?”
Napo, as he is affectionately called, accused the opposition NDC of being the party that engages in acts of religious bigotry. To buttress his point, he recalled some of the instances where leading members of the party [NDC] engaged in such acts including Fiifi Kewtey’s infamous “Muslims are unfit to lead this country” statement.
He also recalled the recent comments by Hon. Muntaka Mubarak, who said on Zuria Radio that he [Hon. Muntaka Mubarak] and Hon. Haruna Iddrisu were sacked from the NDC front bench in Parliament as Minority Chief Whip and Minority Leader respectively because they are Muslims.
Napo maintained that Ghanaians have generally demonstrated that they do not discriminate when it comes to the choice of leaders. According to him, religious affiliation has never been a consideration for choosing leaders in Ghana, because we [Ghanaians] always consider ourselves as one people with a common destiny, and serving the same God.
On the basis of the foregoing, the NPP’s Vice Presidential Candidate expressed strong confidence that the good people of Ghana will vote massively for his boss, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Presidential Candidate, because, not only is Dr. Bawumia competent and visionary but has also demonstrated a proven track record of delivery, as he has successfully spearheaded many laudable interventions even as Vice President.
