The Nkrumah-Akufo-Addo comparison made by the running mate to the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), will not have any major impact on the NPP’s chances of winning the 2024 general elections, Former National Chair of the NPP Peter Mac Manu.
He says there is enough time for the NPP to correct whatever defects that may have come up as a result of NAPO’s comment.
Speaking in an interview with TV3’s Kemini Amanor on Sunday, July 15, he said the comparison was “an unnecessary debate because currently we are going into an election and the key competitor we are fighting in this election is the NDC and others, so let us focus our attention.”
Asked whether the party is concerned that this would impact its chances of winning the elections this year, he said “when you are going into an election there are a multiplicity of factors that come into play. Let me tell you what Mrs Margaret Thatcher said ‘One week in an election is a long time’. So between now and December is a very long time. I think that whatever this particular issue has been brought up we should be able to make up with it before 7 December.
“I don’t think this will have any major effect on NPP’s standing in the upcoming elections. It is an election that we are well prepared from now up to 7 December and I keep saying that in an election if you are peaking you must peak up to the up to D-Day and one week can even make the difference. So I am not down because of whatever transpired because if you look at the number of people who came to hail NAPO and the NPP, both at Manhyia and at Jubilee Park, it has a story to tell. The story will be, we have a large following which can turn the tide in favour of the NPP, in favour of Dr Bawumia, our presidential candidate.”
Mac Manu further stated that going into the 2024 general elections, the concentration of the NPP must be on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the major competitor.
For him, issues of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) should be put to rest.
Mr Mac Manu said this while describing the Nkrumah-Akufo-Addo comparison made by the running mate to the flagbearer of the NPP, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh as a political gaffe that has occurred to many politicians.
He explained that on political platforms, several issues may happen which will get the speakers carried away.
“I have listened to various comments on it, on social media, radio, and TV, some in favour, some against. The moment NAPO was speaking I was on a dais, I did not anticipate any gaffe, I thought he had been given the opportunity as running mate, the National Council has given its approval, and he is now on a marketing spree for the party and for the elections. I will say that the election is about NPP and NDC, so this issue about Nkrumah, for me, must be made to rest because we are talking about an election scheduled for December 7 between NPP, NDC, and others.
“So if you have been outdoored and you have such a huge crowd to come and watch you I will not concentrate anything about the Kwame Nkrumah, I will rather concentrate on my competitor. On political platforms, many things happen and it has happened to many politicians, we call it gaffe in politics. I think NPP as a party has not come out to say anything about this because for NPP it is a competition between the NPP and the NDC and others. With Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP, even recently I heard that CPP are not going to field a presidential candidate,” he said.
Dr Opoku Prempeh apologised for his comparison of President Akufo-Addo’s contribution to Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh usually referred to as NAPO in a statement on July 12 said his comments were not meant to denigrate former President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
“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,” his statement said.
The former Energy Minister added that he’s noted the concerns raised after his statement and “regret any discomfort caused.”
NAPO’s apology came days after his statement has been met with condemnation even from some party stalwarts.
