AKUFO-ADDO VS NKRUMAH; CPP CHALLENGES NAPO TO DEBATE

Report by Bernard K DADZIE
The party of the cockerel, the Convention People's Party (CPP) is rearing for and storming for a debate!
It has thrown a challenge to Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, the Vice
Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party. According to the CPP, the debate would focus on
President Akufo-Addo's record versus Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's achievements. The CPP suggests that the
debate takes place in two weeks.
Until recently, Napo was a Minister in the Akufo-Addo government.
The CPP has suggested that the venue be at the British Council Hall or NPP Headquarters in Accra.
Napo’s decision on the choice of venue would be final.
In the meantime, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has already eaten back all the words he uttered recently
against the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the Founder of the CPP, and then some. A few days after his
mouth led him astray, he came back to eat back his words. However, the Cockerel Party, which has been
lying dormant for years like a de-feathered broiler in a cold-room, is still not mollified. It wants blood.
Napo’s blood would do quite nicely.
In this fashion, the CPP has stated that Nkrumah's achievements were ‘iconic’. Nkrumah led Ghana to
independence in 1957. He also introduced a seven-year development plan. This plan focused on
providing affordable energy for industrialization. CPP questioned what Akufo-Addo has done
comparable to securing independence.
The CPP’s crowing was at a press conference. It was addressed by the party’s Director of
Communications, Sylvester Sarpong Soprano. He acknowledged that Matthew Opoku Prempeh has
already apologized for his comments. But in the spirit of a true bantam, the CPP still wants a fight.
Nothing would do but a fight, whether Opoku Prempeh likes it or not. Speak of paying for
loquaciousness.
During his unveiling ceremony in Kumasi on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh allowed
his mouth to run away from his bdoy and brains and to have a life of its own. In a manner typical of a
man speaking before he has fully evaluated the consequences of what he was saying, Mr. Opoku
Prempeh said;
“Since independence from 1957 till today, we have not had any president that has helped Ghana like
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. I say from 1957 till today, you can bring your Kwame Nkrumah… no
president who has protected Ghana and moved the country forward like Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-
Addo,” NAPO said to a cheering gathering.
Comparing the record on housing, between President Akufo-Addo and President Kwame Nkrumah,
Sylvester Sarpong Soparno said within the period of the 7-year Development Plan, the Convention
People's Party, led by President Kwame Nkrumah provided over 17,100 individual housing units across
the entire Republic, from Korle Gonno in Greater Accra (1,068) to Bolgatanga in the UE Region (12), Ho
in the Volta Region (228) to Tarkwa in the Western Region (819), etc.
"I'm sure Napo can tell us how President Akufo-Addo's housing Project at Pokuase in the Greater Accra
Region and any others compare to the record of the CPP and President Kwame Nkrumah. The CPP, led
by President Kwame Nkrumah, expanded the economy of Ghana at an unprecedented pace, which has
not been matched since", he stated.