The Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has criticised the running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh for comparing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s achievements to that of Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

Armah-Kofi Buah said the NPP’s running mate’s comparison is “a misguided and insulting affront to the legacy of Ghana’s founding father.”

During his unveiling in Kumasi on Tuesday, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, popularly called NAPO, asserted that no president, including Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, has developed Ghana like President Akufo-Addo has done since 2017.

“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.

The Deputy Minority Leader, however, posted his Facebook page and disagreed with NAPO, stating that Kwame Nkrumah’s legacy is unmatched and that such comparisons are unjust and illogical.

“Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s attempt to compare Nana Addo to Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah following his uninspiring outdooring as the running mate to the failed presidential candidate of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is a misguided and insulting affront to the legacy of Ghana’s founding father. Dr. Nkrumah’s unparalleled contributions to Ghana’s independence and development are undeniable, and any attempt to draw comparisons with Nana Addo is unjust and illogical.

“Dr. Nkrumah’s vision, leadership, and progress are unmatched in Ghana’s history. Nkrumah’s legacy and accomplishments span across all regions in Ghana, with even Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s own Ashanti region benefiting greatly from his achievements and profound impact.”

Armah-Kofi Buah highlighted some of the projects Ghana’s first president executed in the Ashanti region and nationally and questioned the guts with which NAPO sought to denigrate Nkrumah’s legacy.

He further accused President Akufo-Addo of performing abysmally which he said has plunged Ghana into an economic mess.

“Is Mathew Opoku Prempeh strangely suggesting that Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration, which has plunged the country into economic turmoil through unprecedented borrowing, debt distress, stinking corruption, and ineffective leadership, is somehow superior to the transformative leadership of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah that propelled Ghana into a new era of development and progress?

“Under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s visionary leadership, Ghana emerged as a beacon of hope and a shining star in Africa, setting an example for other nations to follow. Regrettably, Ghana has now become a laughing stock owing to the abysmal performance of the Akufo Addo-Bawumia-led government.”

He added that NAPO must render a public apology for attempting to rewrite history and belittle the achievements and contributions of Kwame Nkrumah to the development of Ghana.

“NAPO must retract his statement and apologize for his attempt to mischievously rewrite history. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s legacy is sacrosanct, and any attempt to downgrade it will be met with fierce resistance.

“The people of Ghana will not tolerate any attempt to distort the country’s history and undermine the legacy of its founding father. The undying legacy of the African of the Millennium and global icon, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, will forever be protected and not allowed to be distorted and undermined.”