The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has called for the immediate resignation of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh from all governmental and political positions.
The party in a statement, took strong exception to perceived inflammatory statements made by the New Patriotic Party Vice Presidential Candidate on July 9, 2024, in Kumasi, during his unveiling ceremony, describing it as offensive and unbecoming of his esteemed position.
“The statement is so reprehensible and unbecoming of his stature that it is abhorrent to refer to it, or even publish it anywhere, whether print or electronic media, and deserves to be immediately deleted from all forums. A questioning or comparison of the contribution of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to Ghana, Africa, and Humanity as a whole, is a moot question, dead on arrival, outmoded at birth”.
(for) COMRADE WING COMM. PATRICK NELSON SOGBODJOR (Chairperson, Independent Committee, Convention People’s Party)
The Convention Peoples’ Party further pointed out that Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who currently serves as the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South and Minister for Energy, and is the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Vice Presidential Candidate comments disparages the legacy of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President and a revered figure in African liberation history.
The CPP’s statement also emphasized that such remarks not only tarnish the image of Dr. Prempeh but also that of the entire nation.
Unacceptable Remarks
The CPP’s press release did not reproduce Dr. Prempeh’s exact words, deeming them too reprehensible for public dissemination, however asserting that any questioning or comparison of Dr. Nkrumah’s contributions to Ghana, Africa, and humanity is fundamentally flawed and disrespectful.
The statement pointed out that Dr. Nkrumah, who posthumously won the title of African of the Millennium in 2000, remains a monumental figure globally, with his legacy enshrined in numerous monuments and history books worldwide.
The CPP underscored the irony that Dr. Prempeh, an alumnus of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), a prominent institution established under Dr Nkrumah’s government, would question the former president’s impact.
The CPP also noted the admonition by Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, who had previously warned Dr. Prempeh against arrogance and urged him not to bring regret to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who selected him as his running mate.
“Unfortunately, the Hon. Minister did not heed this wise admonition but lived up to the popular adage “my little finger is thicker than my Father’s waist”, and rather proceeded to use unprintable invectives to denigrate the very same Osagyefo under whose Government, the Father of his Presidential Candidate, His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, served.
“This is a matter that should not be flogged like a dead horse, but rather immediate, swift, and effective action be taken, to remedy an almost irremediable blunder, and attempt to restore what is left of an already terribly sullied national image”.
(for) COMRADE WING COMM. PATRICK NELSON SOGBODJOR (Chairperson, Independent Committee, Convention People’s Party)
Historical Context and Political Implications
The CPP’s press release contextualized Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s comments within a broader pattern of actions by the New Patriotic Party administration that it argued seeks to diminish Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s legacy.
These actions the statement noted include the abolition of Republic Day, AU Day, and the renaming of Founder’s Day to what the CPP describes as a “self-serving” NPP holiday on August 5th by President Akufo-Addo’s administration.
The CPP also criticized changes to the educational curriculum during Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s tenure as Education Minister, which the statement posited downplayed the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s historical significance.
In light of these actions and Dr. Prempeh’s recent remarks, the Convention People’s Party demanded that he resign within 24 hours and issue a public apology and retraction.
The statement warned that failure to comply would compel the CPP to call on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to remove Dr. Prempeh from his ministerial position and for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to withdraw him as the NPP’s Vice Presidential Candidate.
The CPP also vowed to mobilize Ghanaians and Nkrumaists worldwide to protest if their demands are not met within the stipulated time frame.
The statement asserted that the New Patriotic Party administration’s perceived attempts to rewrite Ghanaian history and diminish Nkrumah’s legacy would have severe political and economic repercussions.
In the concluding remarks, the CPP invoked a popular adage, warning the NPP to heed the public’s dissatisfaction to avoid a disastrous outcome in the upcoming elections.
The statement reaffirmed the Convention Peoples’ Party’s commitment to preserving Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s legacy and urged all Ghanaians to join the party’s cause.
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