Former NPP Running Mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has appealed to Ghanaians to put aside political differences and unite around the legacy of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
Dr Opoku Prempeh, widely known as NAPO, made the appeal when he made an unexpected appearance at the 2026 Nkrumahfest in Nkroful in the Western Region on Saturday, September 19.
The event was organised to mark the 117th birthday of Dr Nkrumah and provided a platform for reflections on his contribution to Ghana’s independence and the wider African liberation struggle.
NAPO’s presence at the celebration attracted attention because of remarks he made about the former president during the 2024 general election campaign.
At an NPP gathering in Kumasi where he was introduced as the party’s running mate, Dr Opoku Prempeh compared the achievements of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with those of Ghana’s first president.
He argued at the time that no president since independence had done more for Ghana than Akufo-Addo, adding that “not even your Kwame Nkrumah” had advanced and protected the country in the same manner.
The comments generated criticism, prompting NAPO to later apologise and clarify that he had not intended to show disrespect towards Dr Nkrumah or any former president.
Speaking at Nkroful years later, however, NAPO struck a more conciliatory tone, stressing the need for Ghanaians to recognise Nkrumah’s historical contribution beyond partisan political considerations.
He described Dr Nkrumah’s vision as broad, forward-looking and strongly rooted in Pan-Africanism, arguing that his legacy deserved to be honoured by Ghanaians irrespective of political affiliation.
According to NAPO, patriotism requires citizens to move beyond narrow party interests when discussing the contributions of leaders who helped shape Ghana’s national identity.
He said the country’s political differences should not prevent citizens from appreciating the foundations laid by earlier generations of leaders.
NAPO further called for a renewed commitment to patriotism, national unity and selfless public service, saying these values remain important to Ghana’s development.
His appearance at the Nkrumahfest and his remarks have consequently placed renewed attention on the controversy surrounding his 2024 comments, while also highlighting his current call for a more united approach to preserving Dr Nkrumah’s legacy.
