Insults Do Not Win Votes – Napo

Politics of insults and violence are recipes for disaster and should not be encouraged or even tolerated by Ghanaians as the country gears up towards general elections next year, Minister for Education,  Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, mostly known as Napo, has noted.

He explained that the average Ghanaian voter is generally a peaceful person who dislikes negativity and violence: “insults do not win votes. Insults create tension and raise the political temperature. It only benefits those who have no message and would love to distract those who have a clear message to tell. As much as possible, let us avoid such outmoded campaign styles of insults, attacks, shit-bombing and crass vindictiveness that has not helped our democracy”.

Napo said though there should be a concerted and deliberate effort by all political parties and stakeholders to avoid insults and provocative comments that could spark avoidable chaos and petty conflicts, his caution was more directed at members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“We in the NPP are not known for politics of insults. Ours have always been an issues-based campaign where we offer more meaningful alternative policies to better the lot of our people and posterity.

“This season, we have way too many achievements to point to under the Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo.  From education, to economy to Cocoa to health to agriculture to good governance, we have a tall list of positives to raise and discuss and campaign on. We should do well to avoid the insults no matter how we may be provoked. We have to focus on our achievements”, Napo noted.

He was addressing NPP members during the Manhyia South Constituency annual Delegates Conference of the party.

Napo, who doubles as Member of Parliament for Manhyia South also emphasized on the need for NPP members to always stay united since they have a common destiny.

“I will urge our party members, especially those interested in contesting for parliamentary seats and their supporters, to embark on campaign of ideas and policies, devoid of insults and foul language.

“This is a family affair so we should conduct ourselves in a manner that would not lead to disunity or visible cracks in our party”, Napo, who doubles as the Education Minister, said to a rapturous applause”, Napo added.

The Manhyia South Lawmaker said the President Nana Akufo-Addo-led government had done more than enough to win a second term in 2020, reiterating that the NPP needs unity to achieve its target.

Napo is one of the Akufo-Addo appointees that have suffered the worst forms of trial-by-media persecutions, mostly engineered by political rivals of his party.

Many believe the attacks are aimed at discrediting his achievements in the Free SHS success story. He has however remained focused and has ensured enrolment figures keep increasing each academic year.