Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Vice Presidential Candidate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has said his controversial remarks about Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, were intentionally twisted and taken out of context by political opponents and sections of the media during the 2024 election campaign.
Speaking at the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science on his experience as running mate to the NPP’s 2028 flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Opoku Prempeh said he was not surprised by the backlash, describing it as part of the realities of political communication.
He argued that in politics, opponents frequently seize on statements and reinterpret them to suit their own narratives.
“When I talked about Nkrumah, most of the reportage was twisted. I live in a political space, and when people want to twist your words, they will always do. But I can assure you that it will only last a short time,” he stated.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh also dismissed claims that he is arrogant, saying such perceptions were manufactured by critics who had never interacted with him personally.
He revealed that before accepting the role of running mate, he had anticipated certain criticisms and concluded that some political actors would attempt to paint him negatively.
“Before I started this running mate, nobody ever went on air and said I was arrogant. But they did an analysis and tagged me as such. Every radio commentator said the same thing, but none of them had even met me,” he said.
Despite the controversy, Dr. Opoku Prempeh said he remains unconcerned about such attacks, insisting that deliberate attempts to misrepresent public figures are usually exposed with time.
“I don’t let it bother me because those who do that are easily found,” he added.
The former Energy Minister’s comments at his unveiling in Kumasi on June 9, 2024 where he stated that no president in Ghana’s history, including Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, had outperformed former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo sparked widespread public outrage, with many Ghanaians demanding an apology.
He subsequently issued an apology for the remarks, expressing regret over the controversy they generated.
Editor:
Obiri-Yeboah
