Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh confirms NIB interrogation over his tenure as Education Minister

Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, former Minister of Education and 2024 Vice Presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has disclosed that he is under investigation by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) concerning his tenure at the Ministry of Education.

In an interview with 1957 News, Dr Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, revealed that he has been invited by the NIB on two occasions to assist with inquiries related to his time in office.
“People don’t know that I’ve been invited by the NIB to assist in investigations into some issues during my time at the Ministry of Education. I couldn’t have declined that invitation,” he stated.

Dr. Opoku Prempeh acknowledged the challenges of recalling specific details from his tenure, which ended over four years ago. “I’ve forgotten some of the issues; I can’t remember everything that happened while I was in office. That is why we have technocrats and others who assist in running the ministry and keep records,” he explained.

Reflecting on the nature of political power, he advised public officers to act with integrity, stating, “I always say that those of us in politics should know that no condition is permanent. Today, you can be in power; the next day, you could be in opposition. So politicians in power should always be mindful of what they do with the authority entrusted to them, so that if they are asked to account for their stewardship tomorrow, they can easily do so.”
Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s comments come amid reports that the NIB is intensifying investigations into the activities of key officials from the previous administration. Other individuals, including Professor Ameyaw Ekumfi and former National Service Authority Deputy Director of Operations Kwaku Ohene Gyan, have also been invited for questioning.

The NIB has not released a formal statement on the ongoing investigations.

Dr. Opoku Prempeh served as Ghana’s Minister of Education from January 2017 to January 2021 under President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration. He later served as Minister of Energy from 2021 until July 2024, when he resigned to concentrate on campaigning for the general election following his selection as Vice Presidential candidate alongside Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

He has expressed his willingness to continue cooperating with the NIB, stating, “I have spent my whole day today at the NIB, and I may go there again tomorrow.”