The Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has explained the absence of key New Patriotic Party (NPP) figures from the event unveiling Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh(NAPO), as the party’s running mate in Kumasi.
In a recent interview shared on YouTube, Mensah-Bonsu clarified that his absence, along with that of the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu (Joe Wise), was due to their commitments to parliamentary and party responsibilities.
Mensah-Bonsu revealed that NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia tasked him with drafting the party’s manifesto for the 2024 elections.
This role required him to be engaged in intensive work sessions, including a crucial meeting the day before the unveiling ceremony.
“The work that the vice president tasked me with as the manifesto committee head required me to work with the team to draft the report for him. We worked on Monday, the day before the unveiling.
“We had other discussions that we needed to include in the manifesto, so we had to stay and work on those things because Bawumia needed such information for his regional tours a few days after the event.
“I have already informed my younger brother, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, about why I couldn’t go,” he said.
Mensah-Bonsu stated that he had informed Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh about his inability to attend the event.
He also mentioned that Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, was engaged in parliamentary duties, specifically related to the National Service Authority Bill, where his presence was crucial as the sponsoring minister.
“I was in the office working during the time my younger brother NAPO was being unveiled. I was in the office working when they called from parliament, asking me to come help with the National Service Authority bill.
“So, I went to parliament and met former mayor Osei Assibey, who is the chief executive at the National Service Secretariat. He told me they had a problem with the bill, and Hon. Osei Owusu had told him to call me to come and help.
“The sponsoring minister for the national service is Adutwum, so he was also supposed to be in parliament as the Minister of Education. Bagbin was also occupied with other matters, so he had summoned Osei Owusu to sit in for the proceedings. When I arrived, I realized Osei Owusu was the one presiding,” he asserted.
Mr Mensah-Bonsu further noted that the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Bekwai Constituency, Joseph Osei Owusu, was also engaged in parliamentary proceedings, presiding over the session due to other commitments of Speaker Bagbin.
“We sat and worked on the bill, and even when I wanted to visit the washroom, Osei Assibey thought I was running away and had to follow me.
“Adutwum had to be there because of the national service bill, and Osei Owusu was also presiding that day, which is why he couldn’t go. I haven’t asked them yet, but based on what I saw, this is why I am saying this,” he added.
NAPO was unveiled as Dr. Bawumia’s running mate on June 9, 2024, in Kumasi.