President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh
The name of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, continues to spark debates even after his death.
And as GhanaWeb recently established in an article, one of the major political 'sins' in the country is saying anything that disrespects the memory of Nkrumah.
But many citizens, despite their differences, have shown on countless occasions that they are united when it comes to matters involving Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and his legacy.
However, in recent times, two prominent Ghanaian personalities have incurred the wrath of citizens over their controversial comments about Ghana’s founding father.
Here are the two times NPP personalities came under fire over comments about Nkrumah:
1. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh:
Commonly known as NAPO, the NPP 2024 running mate incurred the wrath of Ghanaians when, during his public outdooring on July 9 in the Ashanti Region, made remarks about Dr. Kwame Nkrumah which was deemed by Ghanaians as controversial and denigrating.
Addressing the rank and file of NPP members, NAPO said “Since independence in 1957, no president has helped Ghana as much as Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. From 1957 to now, not even your Kwame Nkrumah has moved Ghana forward and protected it like Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”
He came under heavy public backlash with Ghanaians calling for him to retract and apologise.
NAPO eventually issued an apology but stated that his remarks were his personal opinion.
Additionally, NAPO’s statement clarified that he never intended to disrespect Ghana’s first president or any other former leader.
"I wish to emphasise that I never meant to disrespect our former President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, or any of our former heads of state, including my own grand uncle and mentor, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor.
"I note the concerns raised after my statement. I apologise sincerely and regret any discomfort caused," he said.
2. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo:
On the eve of the Founders’ Day celebration on August 4, President Akufo-Addo, in an address to the nation, dismissed the narrative that one person founded the country.
According to Akufo-Addo, the contributions of the other founding members known as the Big Six, as well as other groups, cannot be sidelined.
“I speak to you this evening, rejecting completely the notion that Ghana was founded by one man. While Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to our independence are undeniable, it is important to acknowledge that the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations,” the president said in his broadcast.
His comments have generated massive debates among Ghanaians, causing them to revisit history.
Pubic sentiments have since been divided, with many asking about the role played by each member of the Big Six in Ghana's independence struggle.
MAG/AE
