Napo Wins Big Again

Minister for Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh affectionately called ‘Napo’, has once again won another significant award to add to his wide collection of awards, citations and honours from prestigious institutions the word over.

This time around Napo is the proud recipient of the SIA-Africa Person of the Month Award.

Sustainable Initiatives and Alliances for Africa (SIA) was founded in 2012 by Nene Kodjoe and the organization seeks to recognise and award excellence.

SIA-Africa stands for the effective development of the African continent therefore they award people that are playing roles to ensure that.

The prestigious award is given to individuals who are visionary and passionate to support and uplift people living in the Africa continent.

SIA-Africa’s citation, dated May 15, 2020 reads “Sustainable Initiatives and Alliance for Africa Person of the Month is awarded to Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

“In honour of his vision, passion and support to the people for Africa”. It was signed by Nene Kodjoe, Founding Chairman and CEO SIA-Africa.

“We at SIA-Africa value your passion, your hard work and your commitment to making a difference in Africa, especially in these trying times”, the group noted in a statement to Dr. Opoku Prempeh

Napo, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South Constituency, is a renowned medical doctor and an astute politician, with huge experience.

UTAG AWARD

Recently, the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) also honoured Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, aka ‘Napo’, for his hard work, dedication and unique leadership qualities.

In a citation presented to him at the National UTAG Conference, the association described Napo as a leader, who can easily sail through in good and bad times, and thus deserved commendation and support from all.

The citation, which was read by the outgoing UTAG National President, Dr. Eric Opoku Mensah, also praised the Minister for being a listening and visionary leader, whose expertise had helped to uplift the standards of education in the country.

Part of the citation read “You have proven to be a true friend of the UTAG fraternity. Your composure in times of crises situations sets you apart as true leader.

Top Awards

Napo’s hard work and amazing works at the education ministry have been recognised across the country and even beyond, as he had bagged several top awards for changing the face of Ghana’s education.

Among the top awards that Napo has picked in recent times, was when he was adjudged as the Ghana’s Overall Best Minister for 2017 by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana (EFG) at the Corporate Executive Awards Gala.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, by then, had just stayed in political office for just one year, but Napo’s ability to introduce the free SHS programme successfully, was the reason he was adjudged the best minister in the country.

In June 2019, Napo was again adjudged as the Top Performing Minister by the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, after a thorough research about all the ministries and sectors in government.

Napo has also picked several top notch awards outside the country for his efforts to promote education in Ghana.

International Engagements

The Education Minister, who is eager to put Ghana’s education on the international map, has traveled wide and attended several forums, where he marketed Ghana to the international community.

During such travels, he once met and interacted with former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair about what can be done to improve Ghana’s education system. He has also attended several UNESCO events to promote Ghana’s education.

Accomplishments As MP

Napo first entered parliament as Manhyia MP on the ticket of the NPP in 2009 and he has successfully retained his seat for two consecutive times afterwards. He overly impressed as MP for Manhyia before the constituency was divided into north and south.

Napo, who contested for the Manhyia South seat in 2012, easily retained his seat, basically due to his remarkable works for his constituents. In 2016 he contested for the NPP seat at Manhyia South unopposed.

During his reign as Manhyia South lawmaker, the constituency has experienced massive transformation in the area of roads, health, water provision, libraries, streetlights and several others

Napo, who is passionate about education, has worked to improve education in his constituency. For instance, he has given scholarships to several brilliant but needy students to enable them realise their academic goals.