The Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (popularly known in the political space as NAPO), the former Education Minister, was appointed by President Akufo-Addo in the President’s second term as minister responsible for Energy owing to his stellar performance at the Education Ministry.
The President appointed Dr. Prempeh as the Minister of Education, a position he held until 2021. Even his political opponents expressed appreciation for him leading the Ministry to effectively implement the government’s key education policy, the Free Senior High School programme, throughout his term.
Along with other projects, Dr. Prempeh ensured the Ministry completed improvements to the curricula, reforms to the teaching profession, and several efforts to mainstream and advance Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The energy sector remains an integral part of the Ghanaian economy. Hundreds of businesses, from medium to large, rely on power (electricity) in their operations. It is therefore justified by the public sentiments that greeted the Minister’s comments regarding calls for a load-shedding (dumsor) timetable.
However, it is noteworthy that the power distributor, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), which has been excellent in keeping the lights on under NAPO’s leadership over the last seven years, indicated that there was no need for a load-shedding timetable, albeit the Minister sought to reiterate the position of the ECG.
Energy Ministry achievements
The Manhyia South lawmaker, in his tenure as the energy ministry, has, amongst other achievements, chalked significant improvement in the extension of electricity to hard-to-reach areas in the country.
He has since championed various major projects, including the completion of rural electrification, which is currently at 86 percent. He also led the renegotiation of power agreements, the revamping of Ghana’s cylinder manufacturing company, and the improvement of the cylinder recirculation model to meet Ghana’s clean energy goals.
Also, the establishment of a petroleum hub; revision of local content legislation, improving the efficiency of electricity producers and distributors, and relieving the energy debt stock of Ghana through the Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP).
Medicine to Energy
Dr. Prempeh is a qualified medical doctor and surgeon. He studied Human Biology and Medicine at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (BSc) and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Epidemiology from the Netherlands Institute of Health Sciences (MSc).
He further studied Leadership and Government at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Dr. Prempeh has worked as a Medical Doctor in Ghana and the United Kingdom. He is a Surgeon and a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of the United Kingdom.
After serving as a House Officer at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital from 1995 until 1997, Dr. Prempeh continued his education at Erasmus University in The Netherlands, obtaining an M.Sc. in Clinical Epidemiology in 1998.
He proceeded to the United Kingdom to work, becoming a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow in 2002. He returned to Ghana in 2003 to pursue a career in business and politics.
In May 2017, President Akufo-Addo named Matthew Opoku Prempeh as one of the nineteen ministers who would form his cabinet.
Dr. Prempeh was adjudged the best Minister in 2017 and 2019 and is the recipient of the 2020 Harvard Ministerial Medal of Achievement in recognition of his exemplary leadership style.
He has also received two Honorary Doctorates from the University of Education, Winneba, and the University for Professional Studies, Accra, (UPSA), for his leadership and achievements as Education Minister.
He was also recently named one of the top 25 Movers and Shakers in the Energy Sector by the African Energy Chamber.
In December 2023, the Energy Minister, Dr. Prempeh, was honoured with the Minister of the Year 2023 award at the 5th Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Honours.
Manhyia ‘Mayweather’
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh ran for Parliament on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the 2008 general election and won the mandate to represent the people of Manhyia.
Subsequently, the constituency was divided into two and he went on to become Member of Parliament for the Manhyia South Constituency in 2012. He retained the seat at the 2016 elections and again in the 2020 elections.
In his political career, the Energy Minister has consistently delivered the Manhyia South seat for his New Patriotic Party (NPP). Some political commentators describe him as the “Mayweather” in the constituency. Without a doubt, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh stands tall among his compatriots.
As the NPP is at the crossroads of selecting a running mate for the 2024 elections, it is therefore not surprising that he has been tipped for the second-top role in the land.