The District Chief Executive and New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Ellembelle Constituency in the Western Region, Kwasi Bonzo, has announced plans for Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, also known as Napo, to visit the Nzema land.
During this visit, Dr Prempeh will formally apologize to the traditional authorities, particularly the chiefs and people of Nkroful, Nkrumah’s hometown.
This visit comes in response to recent controversies and is seen as an effort to mend relations.
During his unveiling in Kumasi as NPP’s running mate, Dr Opoku Prempeh claimed that President Akufo-Addo has outperformed all previous presidents, including Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, in terms of development.
He later issued an apology for this comment following widespread condemnation.
However, over the weekend, Nana Kwasi Kutuah V, speaking on behalf of the Nzema chiefs, insisted at a press conference that Dr Opoku Prempeh must personally apologise in Nkroful.
They view his remarks as a denigration of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Nana Kwasi Kutuah V emphasised the significance of Dr Nkrumah to the Nzema people and Ghana, noting that any disparaging remarks about the late President are deeply offensive.
He stressed that a formal apology made directly in Nkroful, Dr Nkrumah’s birthplace and a symbolic site for his legacy, is necessary to appease the community and uphold respect for their revered leader.
“As chiefs, we believe that the statement Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh made was not supposed to be made. He has disrespected all Ghanaians including Nzema, Western Region, and Nkrofulman.”
“We have heard that he has released a letter to apologize, but we believe he must come here in person to apologize to us the chiefs and the family,” he said.
Following this, Mr Bonzo revealed that Napo will visit Nzema land to offer his apology in person.
“I have spoken to him personally in my capacity as DCE of Ellembelle and he has assured me that even after his national apology, all politics is local and he will come home to Kwame Nkrumah’s hometown to meet the chiefs and the elders in the shortest possible time to render an unqualified apology,” he told the media.
