The Director of Research and Innovation at Kumasi Technical University, Professor Smart Sarpong, has advised the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate-elect, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to maintain Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh as his running mate for the 2028 elections.

Following Dr Bawumia’s victory in the party’s flagbearer race on Saturday, January 31, some party supporters have called for a change in the vice-presidential candidate, citing perceived shortcomings in Dr Prempeh’s previous tenure.

Speaking on Asempa FM on Monday, February 2, Professor Sarpong argued that retaining the current running mate would save the party the burden of searching for a new candidate and allow the campaign to focus on critical groundwork.

He warned that introducing a new running mate could require time to adjust and potentially create additional challenges.

“I would convert that time into hitting the ground and starting essential work. If there is no major issue with the former running mate, prepare him well, give him a special schedule, and bring him quickly into the game. Maintaining the running mate takes away all that stress. Anyone new will struggle; it’s new terrain,” he said.

He added that delays in naming a new running mate, as experienced previously, could slow down campaign preparations at a crucial time.

Dr Bawumia secured 56.48 per cent of the valid votes cast at the NPP presidential primary, defeating his closest contender, former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, who polled 46,554 votes, representing 23.76 per cent.