The running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has received massive backlash and criticism over the controversial comments he made about Dr. Kwame Nkrumah during his unveiling in the Ashanti Region.
Addressing the rank and file of the NPP at the event grounds on July 9, 2024, Dr. Opoku Prempeh said “I am saying that from 1957 to now, whether you pick your Kwame Nkrumah… there is nobody who has led Ghana and protected the country or developed Ghana more than Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”
His comments, however, have been described as disrespectful by Ghanaians.
The Convention People’s Party (CPP), a socialist political party based on the ideals of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, have called for the immediate resignation of Dr Opoku Prempeh.
They have threatened to embark on a nationwide protest if NAPO fails to resign, apologise and retract his statement in 24 hours.
Despite the backlash, some members of the New Patriotic Party have mounted a strong defence for NAPO.
The following are some of those NPP bigwigs who have defended NAPO’s comment;
1. Nana B:
The National Organiser of the NPP, Henry Nana Boakye, defended the comparison, arguing that Akufo-Addo’s achievements, particularly the Free SHS, surpasses achievements of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
“Why can’t we compare our achievements with Nkrumah? Dr Kwame Nkrumah was a leader and a politician. We have our views, and we think, yes, we have done better because Nkrumah began Free SHS only in the northern part of Ghana, and Nana Akufo-Addo has done it nationally. Is that not a monumental achievement? Is that a problem? It is not a problem,” Nana B stated.
2. Ellen Ama Daaku:
The NPP communicator, who is also the parliamentary candidate of the NPP for the Adentan Constituency, argued that it would have been strange for Opoku Prempeh to use the NPP platform to praise the achievements of Nkrumah.
"He’s speaking to his people, he’s speaking to the NPP. We’re moving into an election, it was on a platform. Are you expecting him to go and extol the virtues of Kwame Nkrumah or the virtues of Jerry Rawlings or the virtues of John Mahama?
“You want everybody to hero-worship Kwame Nkrumah? I mean, when it’s Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday, when it is Independence Day, we discuss his legacy and what he has done.
”You agree with what he has done. I agree with what I have done. The NPP, by ideology - by everything, we’re not in the same lane with Kwame Nkrumah and CPP values,” she said.
She added that “He gave him an opportunity to serve in his government in two very important positions as Minister of Education. He even implemented the flagship programme and then moved into the energy ministry.
“And for him and a lot of Ghanaians NAPO has done exceptionally well. So, if he’s standing on the platform of the NPP on his unveiling as the running mate, you’re expecting him to go and worship Kwame Nkrumah?” she asked.
3. Allotey Jacobs
The former NDC member and Central Regional chairman defended NAPO saying he should not be castigated.
“If you do the analysis, what NAPO said was right. What they did to Nkrumah is what they are doing to Akufo-Addo. He has listened to the plight of Ghanaians and worked towards it, achieving results that every Ghanaian wants. People wanted free SHS to end, but it is still working. We should not castigate NAPO,” he stated.
4. Richard Ahiagbah:
According to the NPP’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, political achievements can only be done through comparisons, thus rubbishing claims that NAPO’s comment was disrespectful.
In a post on X, Richard Ahiagbah said, “What is political communication without comparisons? Political achievements are not measured, cannot be measured, or should not be measured in a vacuum. Comparison is how it is done. This government has achieved significant milestones in the history of our four republics. Stating these unprecedented milestones should not be deemed a slight on the legacies of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah or others. It's political communication," parts of his tweet read.
5. Fiifi Boafo
The Spokesperson for NAPO, Fiifi Boafo, also in his defense, noted that the comparison was based on NAPO’s own opinion and assessment.
Explaining further, Fiifi Boafo said his boss never meant to denigrate the legacy and achievements of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
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