Come to Nkroful and apologise to us – Chiefs to Napo

Chiefs of the Nzema Traditional Area in the Western Region are demanding an in-person apology from the vice presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, for his remarks against Ghana’s first president Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

Dr Nkrumah hails from Nkroful, so the chiefs are peeved over Dr Opoku Prempeh’s comments about their native.

Addressing a press conference at Nkroful, the chiefs said Dr Opoku Prempeh must come before them and apologise to the family and people of the area over what they describe as a denigration of their hero.

During his unveiling in Kumasi by the NPP party on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, the vice presidential candidate said that no president, including the revered Dr Nkrumah, had developed Ghana like President Akufo-Addo.

After widespread criticism from a section of Ghanaians who objected to his assertion, Dr Opoku Prempeh apologised for the remarks.

In a statement, he said his comment was not intended to show disrespect towards Dr Nkrumah or any of Ghana’s former presidents.

However, the Nzema chiefs have rejected the apology, stressing that a formal apology on the land of Nkrumah’s birth is necessary to appease them.

“As chiefs, we believe that the statement Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh made was not supposed to be made. He has disrespected all Ghanaians, including Nzema, Western Region, and Nkrofulman.

“We have heard that he has released a letter to apologize, but we believe he must come here in person to apologise to us, the chiefs and the family,” Nana Kwasi Kutuah V, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs, said.

Meanwhile, Kwasi Bonzo, the District Chief Executive and NPP Parliamentary candidate for Ellembelle Constituency says plans are far advanced for Dr Matthew Prempeh to meet the traditional authorities in Nzema to apologise, particularly to the chiefs and people of Nkroful.

“I have spoken to him personally in my capacity as Ellembele DCE and he has assured me that even after his national apology, all politics is local. He says he’s coming home, Kwame Nkrumah’s hometown to meet the chiefs and the elders in the shortest possible time to render an unqualified apology so that we can all move on as a people. So, we are working on fixing the date for him to render the apology,” he said.