Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, has criticized Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the running mate for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 election, for his recent comments directed at Ghanaian Muslims.

Dr. Prempeh, during a campaign tour in northern Ghana, reportedly urged Muslim communities not to vote for John Mahama, suggesting that it was against Islamic principles to support a non-Muslim candidate.

Mogtari described these remarks as "unguarded," cautioning that political discourse should be conducted without religious, ethnic, or tribal undertones that risk undermining social cohesion.

Addressing the media on the first day of Mahama’s tour in the Central Region, she said, “Let me say something about the NPP’s running mate. I think he is a loose talker, I think he needs some coaching, and I think he needs to grow up a little bit more. I also think he needs to appreciate the sensibilities of our society.”

Mogtari expressed concern over what she sees as Dr. Prempeh’s “enormous arrogance and ignorance” since being nominated, adding, “I shudder to think what else he is going to be saying next.” She also questioned Dr. Prempeh’s suitability for high office, suggesting that his selection may have lacked thorough vetting.

“It is obvious that he has nothing to offer the NPP,” she said, stressing the importance of properly vetting candidates for significant public roles. “Since he was nominated, from the very first day, all the missteps largely tell us that he is not ready for high office,” Mogtari concluded.