Former President John Dramani Mahama has taken Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known as NAPO, to task over his contentious remark referring to Ghana’s first president as ‘Your Kwame Nkrumah.’
Mahama criticized NAPO for making a disrespectful comment about a deceased figure, arguing that Ghanaian customs mandate respect for the dead, who cannot defend themselves against slander.
He remarked that in bygone times, when ghosts were believed to wield influence, Nkrumah’s spirit would have taken action against such disrespect.
“During a recent introduction by Otumfuo, NAPO was praised for his potential but later showed arrogance by referring to Kwame Nkrumah in a disrespectful manner. This was particularly offensive given that Nkrumah is no longer alive to defend himself. Our traditions hold that the dead should not be insulted. If ghosts had their old powers, Nkrumah’s ghost would have dealt with NAPO. Unfortunately, those spirits are no longer a force to be reckoned with,” Mahama stated at a campaign rally.
The comments come in response to NAPO’s remarks in July at a rally in Kumasi, where he compared President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s achievements favorably against those of Nkrumah.
This comparison was widely criticized, leading to an apology from NAPO, who clarified that he did not intend to disrespect the late president.
