Misinterpretation of Statement: NAPO Clarifies Comparison Between Nkrumah and Akufo-Addo

The running mate to the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has said that his comment on Ghana’s first president Dr. Kwame Nkrumah has been misinterpreted.

“They have misinterpreted what I said. I said since 1957 from Kwame Nkrumah’s tenure to date, no government has worked more than Nana Akufo-Addo. In our politics, if you speak the truth, they say you are ungrateful, if you tell lies, you are praised. I am your child, you did not train me to be untruthful or a coward,” Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh said.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s running mate made this statement when he called on the Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi traditional area and President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Tetrete Okuamoah Sekyim II earlier on Wednesday, July 10.

During his unveiling at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi on July 9, Dr Opoku Prempeh said among other things that no president of Ghana has developed the country more than President Akufo-Addo, not even Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

“I can boldly say that if the history of Ghana is told from 1957, we have never had a president that has helped Ghana more than Nana Akufo-Addo. I mean from 1957, even including your Kwame Nkrumah, none of them has protected Ghana and developed the country more than Nana Akufo-Addo,” he said at his official unveiling event at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi on July 9, 2024.

Dr Opoku Prempeh stressed that, “President Akufo-Addo has developed this country to the admiration of all. Therefore, we will not allow what happened in 2008 to repeat itself. It will be most appropriate for Nana Akufo-Addo to hand over to his junior brother, Dr Bawumia.”

But his comment has sparked controversy among Ghanaians, leading to the Convention Peoples Party calling on him to apologise.

The CPP said “The Convention People’s Party calls on the Honourable Minister, within 24 hours, to do the ‘Honourable’ thing for the sake of the Country’s image, and immediately resign from all Governmental and political positions, and issue an immediate apology and retraction.

“Failing which the party calls on His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to withdraw the Hon. Minister from his position as Minister of Energy, and also calls on His Excellency Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to withdraw him as his Vice Presidential candidate, for the sake of the Country’s image, and its long term political and economic fortunes. Ghanaians and Nkrumaist’s worldwide, will have no choice but to hit the streets to register their displeasure if the above, or similar measures, are not immediately enforced within 24 hours.

“As the popular saying goes, “one who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off”, there is an election to be fought, albeit at the ballot box, and it would serve the sitting Government well to heed the voice of the people, lest their imminent electoral defeat becomes even worse than it is predicted to be.”