Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, running mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, flag bearer of the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) failure to apologise to Ghanaians over the ‘dumsor‘ comment he made was his make or break.
The assertion being made by private legal practitioner, Martin Luther Kpebu, on the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, July 13, 2024, come on the back of an apology rendered by Dr. Opoku Prempeh, also known as Nana Poku (NAPO), regarding his denigrating comments to Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President and founder.
According to the lawyer, NAPO’s apology to the comments is fake, and his failure to apologise to the entire nation for the insults he rained on people for demanding for a load shedding also known as ‘dumsor’ timetable, was what defined his personality and whether he was going to be fit for the Vice Presidency or not.
“And it is very clear, as long as he never addressed the dumsor comment, that was his make or break moment. People were so angry and that thing stretched over months and he chose not to apologise, went back to Parliament and said it was ‘dumsiesie’ (off it for repairs). He was very defiant,” he stated.
Martin Kpebu likened his attitude to an attribute the Greek Philosopher, Plato, stated in his book, ‘The Republic‘ which he said no good leader should possess –being mean to his subjects.
Mr. Kpebu explained that “from what NAPO has done so far, you see that this is a mean candidate. He never apologised with the dumsor comment and now that he’s seen that his cup is full with the Kwame Nkrumah comment, he seeks to apologise for that one, it’s not sufficient.
“Plato’s book was written about 2,000 years before Jesus Christ was born, the qualities of a good leader, talking about the Philosopher King, one of them, he should not be mean to human souls. I’m sure we’ve suffered enough meanness from Akufo-Addo and Bawumia and you want to give us another mean candidate, sorry”
The Manhyia South lawmaker, during his unveiling at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi Tuesday, July 09, 2024, indicated that none can be compared to President Akufo-Addo in terms of achievements, including Dr. Nkrumah, a comment he made in a tonation many have described as disrespectful and smacks of arrogance.
“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,” said Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known as Nana Poku (NAPO).
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.”
Although he was rebuked for the comments, he stood by his words and repeated same a day after. He received further criticisms until he issued an apology which many still deem insulting.
He said “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 he issued Friday, July 12, 2024, read.
“I note the concerns raised after my statement. I apologise sincerely and regret any discomfort caused,” it added.
