In response to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential running mate, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party demanded that remarks regarding President Akufo-Addo surpassing the accomplishments of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, be withdrawn.
Among other things, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh stated at his presentation on July 9 at Jubilee Park in Kumasi that President Akufo-Addo has advanced Ghana more than any previous president, not even Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the nation’s founding father.
In the presence of the rank and file of the NPP, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh who was welcomed to the podium by thunderous shouts from enthusiastic party supporters said, “I can boldly say that if the history of Ghana is told from 1957, we have never had a President that has helped Ghana more than Nana Akufo-Addo. I mean from 1957, even including your Kwame Nkrumah, none of them has protected Ghana and developed the country more than Nana Akufo-Addo.”
The Manhyia South Member of Parliament and Minister of Energy claim that everyone is impressed with President Akufo-Addo’s development of Ghana. Given this, the NPP says it would not allow the events of 2008—when they were defeated by the NDC—to happen again and that Nana Akufo-Addo should turn things over to his capable vice, Dr. Bawumia.
On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in the morning, Dr. Opoku Prempeh was elegantly escorted to the Manhyia palace, where he was solemnly presented to his uncle, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Otumfuo admonished NAPO not to believe that he is conceited, saying that he shouldn’t make Dr. Bawumia second-guess his choice of running mate.
However, NAPO’s statement of comparison came as a shock as many people described the statement as unfortunate.
In light of that, the CPP has said, “The Convention People’s Party calls on the Honourable Minister, within 24 hours, to do the ‘Honourable’ thing for the sake of the Country’s image, and immediately resign from all Governmental and political positions, and issue an immediate apology and retraction.”
“Failing which the party calls on His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to withdraw the Hon. Minister from his position as Minister of Energy, and also calls on His Excellency Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to withdraw him as his Vice Presidential candidate, for the sake of the country’s image, and its long term political and economic fortunes. Ghanaians and Nkrumaist’s worldwide, will have no choice but to hit the streets to register their displeasure if the above, or similar measures, are not immediately enforced within 24 hours.”
“As the popular saying goes, ‘one who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off’, there is an election to be fought, albeit at the ballot box, and it would serve the sitting Government well to heed the voice of the people, lest their imminent electoral defeat becomes even worse than it is predicted to be.”
