Nana Kwasi Kutuah V
Nana Kwasi Kutuah V, the Chief of Nkroful, the hometown of the first president of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, has ordered Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh to visit the family members of Kwame Nkrumah and render an unqualified apology to them.
He stated that NAPO's comment was an affront to Ghana’s democracy, which has the potential to derail the country's peace and unity, and described his apology as hollow.
The New Patriotic Party's (NPP) running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, sparked outrage and public disaffection after suggesting that Akufo-Addo's achievements surpass those of Kwame Nkrumah.
Following intense public backlash, he issued a statement to apologize, but this seems not to placate some groups of people.
A group, the concerned youth of the Western Region, called for a proper apology from him on Friday, July 12, while urging the traditional leaders of the land to add their voices and also ban him from their palaces in the interim.
The latest call is from the chiefs and people of Nkroful, who said his comments on July 9 seek to undermine, denigrate, and humiliate their icon, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Addressing the media on Sunday, July 14, at the Nkroful chief palace in the Ellembele District, Nana Kwasi Kutuah V emphasized that until the NPP's running mate comes to Nkroful to apologize to the family and the entire Nzemas, his apology will not be accepted.
"We think that Dr. Prempeh was not forthright with Ghanaians when he alluded to the fact that he didn’t mean to insult Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. We have also learned that he has apologized to the good people of Ghana and, you know, past presidents of Ghana," he stated.
"We want to demand that Dr. Prempeh, the running mate of the NPP, come to Nkroful to meet Nananom and the family of Kwame Nkrumah and make a formal apology to us," he added.
Nana Kwasi Kutuah V took the opportunity to warn political players and their followers to foster unity, peace, and development.
He emphasized that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was the icon of Ghana and Africa as a whole, and people must accord him respect.
Some residents who spoke to this reporter at the press conference condemned Dr. Opoku Prempeh, described his apology as fake, and described his attacks on Kwame Nkrumah as uncalled for.
They backed the Nkroful Chief for rejecting NAPO's apology and stated that if NAPO fails to come to Nkroful to apologize, they would vote against the NPP on December 7.
