I sincerely looked forward to letting my pen breathe for a week at least, but in walked NAPO. And so, on behalf of Nkrumah, I protest!
On July 9, 2024, at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) introduced the running mate to their flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia : Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh (AKA, NAPO). He is no stranger to the terrain and no surprise to observers either.
The boisterous fanfare that accompanied the event was no revelation, but I will tell you what was startling: a portion of Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh’s speech which brazenly asserted that President Nana Akufo-Addo has been the most impactful leader in Ghana’s history since 1957, even surpassing Kwame Nkrumah!
First, I would like to say that you do not compare the mundane, uninspiring, and unimpressive with LEGACY. It is laughable and presents your candidate as one willing to throw caution to common sense and reach for boisterous lies just to energize your base.
No, it is not a good look from a former education minister. If Napo’s aim was to be bold and impressive, then he failed. But if his aim was to be contentious and offensive, then I am here to deliver his applause.
You may wrangle over the legacies of other past Ghanaian presidents, although the Akufo-Addo Administration, at present, pales in comparison to the worst.
Nonetheless, may I point out that Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is not Jerry John Rawlings or John Atta Mills, or any other past president of Ghana whose legacies we can be divided over based on bias. This is Kwame Nkrumah. There is no confusion or debate over his legacy; there is clear local and international consensus.
He is in a league that President Akufo-Addo may only aspire. The assertion is so lofty and arrogant that I am tempted to believe NAPO purposely set his party up for ridicule- was it deliberate, sir?
Because your claim not only overlooks the monumental achievements of Nkrumah but also glosses over the numerous shortcomings and controversies of the Akufo-Addo administration. How?!
Where Nkrumah’s legacy illuminates, Akufo-Addo’s confuses, and possibly so will the Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Opoku-Prempeh ticket. After all, you have already set the tone for what to expect.
To contend with the legacy of Nkrumah is to contend with the very foundations of our country, Ghana. Apart from being the principal architect of Ghana’s independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Kwame Nkrumah’s time in office as the first president of Ghana was marked by transformative economic policies and visionary projects that paved way for Ghana’s multi-sector development.
Osagyefo’s government has become a catalyst for movements across the globe, because of him, we need no introduction. His government is remembered for remarkable industrialization, establishing numerous state-owned enterprises and infrastructure projects aimed at making Ghana self-sufficient.
Trans-generational examples of his visionary stewardship include the construction of the Akosombo Dam, which considerably boosted agriculture and industry, Nkrumah initiated numerous factory projects to reduce Ghana’s dependence on foreign goods and foster economic self-reliance, he also established the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and invested in research and development, signaling a forward-thinking approach to national security and scientific advancement, prioritized education and built schools, such as the University of Ghana, Legon, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Cape Coast, Ghana National College among countless others.
What exactly is the comparison Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh seeks to make? Don’t tell me the Free Senior High School (SHS) program is the main point for this argument because my God, is it hackneyed!
President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration is not a period any Ghanaian seeks to relive. It has been marked by significant economic challenges and controversies. Even Free SHS has come with overcrowded classrooms, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient teaching materials.
We have not finished the argument over how the banking sector crisis was handled and Let us not forget staggering inflation, unemployment, and unprecedented debt. Ghana’s debt-to-GDP ratio had surged to GH¢658.6 billion as of February 2024. The fiscal recklessness of this administration has left the futures of Ghanaians in balance while we are flogged raw by consumer inflation which galloped as high as 50.3% in November 2022, driven by utilities, food and fuel.
The highest consumer inflation in 21 years and all under the Akufo-Addo administration but we are sitting around in 2024 arguing over Nkrumah’s legacy!
Should we forget the constant allegations of corruption and mismanagement that have tainted Akufo-Addo’s administration? High-profile corruption scandals such as the PDS and Agyapa have completely eroded public trust in this government.
These issues stand in stark contrast to Nkrumah’s era, where the focus was on nation-building and reducing foreign dependence through strategic investments in key sectors. The Akufo-Addo Administration introduced a ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ mantra that remained a dreamy mantra never to be realized. They have become more of masters at sloganeering and less of masters at delivering results for the good people of Ghana.
So how did we arrive at this outlandish claim? Nkrumah’s vision for a united Africa and his efforts in promoting pan-Africanism extended beyond Ghana’s borders, positioning the country as a leader on the continent and turning his memory into an inspiration to individuals and movements across the globe.
It is also important to recognize that leadership is not solely about economic metrics or infrastructural achievements. And yet even in uneconomic areas, the Akufo-Addo government has been found wanting.
The true measure of a leader includes their ability to unite the nation, uphold democratic principles, and foster an inclusive society. Under President Akufo-Addo’s administration, there has been erosion of press freedom and increasing political polarization.
Again, he is found wanting even in simple areas. So this claim by Dr. Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, made boldly and without substantial evidence, risks distorting history and undermining the contributions of previous leaders who have laid the foundation for Ghana’s progress.
Such claims should not come from a serious running mate.
Let us be guided.
SHALLOM!
By Nuong Faalong
The post Ghana Rising: A protest for Nkrumah first appeared on 3News.
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