Energy Minister Celebrated His 55th Birthday In Ghana, Not Monaco – Spokesperson
Kofi Abrefa Afena, spokesperson for the Energy Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh alias Napo has rebutted the claim that Napo celebrated his 55th birthday in Monaco on May 23, 2023.
According to Afena, the publication he chanced on in the Daily Guide Newspaper with the caption “Napo Celebrates Birthday in Monaco” is false and must be disregarded by the public.
He said in a statement that “Among other unintelligent postulations, the publication alleges that the Energy Minister and Member of Parliament for Manhyia South flew a certain phantomized private Jet to celebrate his birthday”.
“The publication which has unfortunately been given front-page prominence, in furtherance of a calculated scheme, is clearly a sordid attempt at besmirching the character of the Minister and painting him as ostentatious in the eyes of right-thinking Ghanaians”.
“I wish to respond to this total fabrication as follows:
“1. On the 23rd of May, 2023 which marked the 55th birthday of Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, he was in Ghana and attended a meeting of the Economic Management Team (EMT).”
“2. On the same day, 23rd May, Dr Prempeh also attended a Board meeting of the Governing Board of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).”
“3. On 24th May, the day after, Dr. Prempeh’s birthday, I was in his house in the morning, at his instance, where he recorded an appreciation message to his well-wishers for the love shown him on his birthday.”
“4. He spent the rest of the day of the 24th in his office, where he carried out his routine official duties.”
“5. Dr. Prempeh after seeking the necessary approval from the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, travelled abroad on KLM to Athens for a brief holiday. There is incontrovertible evidence in this regard”.
“6. The above sequence of events is verifiable. Anybody who knows Dr Prempeh very well will corroborate the fact that he does not attach hype and razzmatazz to his birthdays, except, on those days, as an avid Christian, to be alone in sobriety and to thank the almighty God for his grace and mercies. What happened this year was no different”.
“The attempt by some cowardly elements who feel threatened by the very personality of Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, manifest in his fidelity to propriety and avowed principle, to uphold the supreme interest of the Republic of Ghana, who seek to court hatred and disaffection for him, has failed woefully. It is only sad that the Daily Guide will resort to this crude route of journalism”.
“It is important to state that, the Energy Minister is fully aware of the manoeuvrings of his detractors, especially in the coming days, but remains focused on actualizing the vision of His Excellency the President for the energy sector.
The general public is kindly asked to completely disregard this publication.”