In an interview conducted in February 2024 with prominent talk show host KSM, Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, openly commended Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President. Agyapong’s remarks have resurfaced amid a recent dispute triggered by statements from Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Energy Minister.
KSM questioned Agyapong about the calibre of Ghanaian leadership post-independence, asking, “Is it the case that since independence we haven’t had good leaders, selfless leaders?” In a surprising move, Agyapong, despite his affiliation with the United Party (UP), expressed his admiration for Nkrumah’s leadership and vision.
“I believe in Kwame Nkrumah, although I am UP. Read my lips; you can say it until the next day: I believe in Nkrumah,” Agyapong affirmed.
He extolled Nkrumah’s forward-thinking and the significant impact of his initiatives, stating, “You see, they did a lot of propaganda, and looking at Ghanaian’s behaviour today, we needed Nkrumah at that time. You can hang me, and I [will] still stand by what I am saying. Akosombo textiles; everything that Kwame Nkrumah did for this country. He was over 200 years ahead of his peers or time.”
Aware that his views might provoke criticism from his political allies, Agyapong added, “I know where the criticism will come from, but that is me. I am not a young man anymore; I have done my analysis and my studies, and he is a great man.”
These statements have gained renewed relevance due to Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s recent comments about Nkrumah, which have sparked significant backlash. During his unveiling as the running mate for NPP flagbearer Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in Kumasi on 9 June 2024, Opoku Prempeh made remarks perceived as disparaging towards Nkrumah.
“It has never happened in the history of Ghana. If President Akufo-Addo retires, I can hit my chest and state that since the nation’s inception in 1957, there has not been a president who has helped the state more than Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,” Opoku Prempeh stated. “I am saying that from 1957 to now, whether you pick ‘your’ Kwame Nkrumah… there is nobody who has led Ghana and protected the country or developed Ghana more than Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”
Opoku Prempeh’s remarks have ignited a fierce debate, with many drawing comparisons between his comments and Agyapong’s earlier praise for Nkrumah. As the discussion continues, the legacy of Ghana’s first president remains a central and contentious topic in the nation’s political landscape.
