Former President John Dramani Mahama has taken issue with Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, known as NAPO, the running mate for NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, over his controversial remark referring to “Your Kwame Nkrumah.”
Mahama emphasized that Ghanaian customs and traditions emphasize respecting the dead, and speaking ill of them is a violation of these norms.
He pointed out that while the living can defend themselves against insults or accusations, the deceased cannot.
Mahama also remarked that if it were in ancient times when it was believed that ghosts had power, Nkrumah’s ghost would have likely sought retribution against NAPO.
“The running mate for NPP when they went and introduced him to Otumfuo; Otumfuo said we brought you up because you are part of the Manhyia Palace and we know we brought you up well. But we hear you are arrogant. We hope that you prove people wrong.
“As soon as he left there, not up to 3 hours, he went and said, ‘Mo Kwame Nkrumah nu’ – that your Kwame Nkrumah. That is a very disrespectful thing to say about the founder of this nation and especially a founder who is no longer alive. You can insult me because I can respond because I’m alive.
“You can insult me because I can respond because I’m alive, but in our tradition, you don’t say evil things about the dead. You don’t disrespect the dead because they are not alive to respond to you.
In the past, ghosts were powerful. As he said that, Nkrumah’s ghost would have knocked him down, but now the ghosts have all become disarmed,” John Dramani Mahama said at a campaign rally.
Mahama’s remarks were in response to Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s reference to the nation’s first president as “your Nkrumah” during a political rally in Kumasi in July.
NAPO made this remark while contrasting the accomplishments of the current President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, with those of Kwame Nkrumah.
“Since independence from 1957 till today, we’ve 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.
These comments outraged many Ghanaians, who condemned him. Subsequently, NAPO issued an apology and explained that it was not his intention to disrespect Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.