A senior Political Science lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Richard Baah Amoako, has said Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s explanations to the “your Nkrumah” comment he made will not suffice.
He says the comments shouldn’t have come out at all, adding that he should ensure such pronouncements don’t come from him henceforth.
Speaking on Ghana Tonight with Alfred Ocansey Wednesday, July 10, 2024, the Political Science lecturer and analyst noted that Dr. Opoku Prempeh should ensure he talks about things that will centre the conversation at him rather than others.
His comments follow an explanation being given by the running mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known as Nana Poku (NAPO), that Ghanaians misinterpreted a statement he made during his unveiling at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi Tuesday, July 09, 2024.
During his call on the Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi traditional area and President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Tetrete Okuamoah Sekyim II Wednesday, July 10, he said his comments were misinterpreted.
“They have misinterpreted what I said. I said since 1957 from Kwame Nkrumah’s tenure to date, no government has worked more than Nana Akufo-Addo. In our politics, if you speak the truth, they say you are ungrateful, if you tell lies, you are praised. I am your child, you did not train me to be untruthful or a coward,” Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh said.
Reacting to his explanation on Ghana Tonight Wednesday, July 10, 2024, the political analyst and lecturer indicated that NAPO’s excuses are irrelevant because the comments are already out.
“That is not how you even respond to it. The fact is, it has come out. Your excuses are not important. Next time it should not come out. That is what you look out for [but] not making excuses for yourself. The fact is, don’t talk about anything that will pay attention to anything else but yourself.
“So, it’s not just [to] prove people wrong that you are not arrogant, also prove that you are wise,” Dr. Baah Amoako told Alfred Ocansey, host of the show.
Background
During his unveiling at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi Tuesday, July 09, 2024, Dr. Opoku Prempeh said among other things that no president of Ghana has developed the country more than President Akufo-Addo, not even Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
“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,” he said at his official unveiling event at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi on July 9, 2024.
He stressed that, “President Akufo-Addo has developed this country to the admiration of all. Therefore, we will not allow what happened in 2008 to repeat itself. It will be most appropriate for Nana Akufo-Addo to hand over to his junior brother, Dr Bawumia.”
But his comment has sparked controversy among Ghanaians, leading to the Convention Peoples Party calling on him to apologise.
The CPP said in a statement that: “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,” the statement added.