Nana B defends Opoku Prempeh’s comparison of Akufo-Addo to Nkrumah

The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, also known as Nana B, has questioned the backlash over Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s comparison of President Akufo-Addo’s achievements to those of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Speaking at his unveiling as the running mate to NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia ahead of the December 7 polls in Kumasi on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Dr. Prempeh stated that no president in the history of the country had performed better than Nana Akufo-Addo, “not even your Kwame Nkrumah.”

This statement did not sit well with critics, who claimed it justified the perception of Dr. Prempeh’s arrogance.

In response, Nana B defended the comparison during an interview on the Class Morning Show with Kwame Dwomoh Agyemang, arguing that Akufo-Addo's achievements, particularly in the implementation of Free SHS, surpassed those of Nkrumah.

He emphasized that while Dr. Nkrumah started Free SHS in the northern part of Ghana, it was President Akufo-Addo who boldly implemented it nationwide, which is a significant accomplishment.

Nana B stated, “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?”

Nana B noted that former President Mahama even left Achimota School to benefit from Free SHS in the North because enrollment was very low then. In contrast, the national implementation by Akufo-Addo has been a credit to his administration.

“Is that a problem? It is not a problem,” Nana B stated.