I didn’t intend to denigrate Nkrumah or any other president – NAPO apologizes
The running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2024 election, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known as NAPO, has issued an apology for drawing comparisons between the achievements of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and the incumbent President Akufo-Addo.
He clarified that his statement on Tuesday, July 9, was not intended to show disrespect towards Dr. Nkrumah or any of Ghana’s former presidents.
His apology follows criticism from a section of Ghanaians who objected to his assertion that President Akufo-Addo has surpassed all previous leaders since Ghana’s independence, including Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
NAPO said this at his unveiling as the NPP running mate for the Presidential Candidate on Tuesday, July 9.
Leaders of the Conventional People’s Party (CPP) and others, including Deputy Minority Leader Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, have condemned NAPO for his statement and demanded an apology and retraction.
Reacting to the public uproar, NAPO said on Friday, July 12, “The statement reflects my personal opinion about President Akufo-Addo’s impact relative to other presidents we have had.
“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,” portions of the statement read.
He continued, “I note the concerns raised after my statement. I apologise sincerely and regret any discomfort caused.”
Read the full statement below:
