Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the 2024 running mate for Ghana’s governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has made startling claims about Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. He alleges that he persecuted and expelled several chiefs from the country.
In an interview on August 16, 2024, during a campaign tour in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Opoku Prempeh detailed the origins and evolution of the NPP, highlighting its deep historical ties to Ghanaian chiefs. He explained that these ties were not just symbolic, but they were also instrumental in the party’s formation and early political activities. He alleged that Nkrumah’s regime targeted traditional leaders who opposed his rule, thereby severing these crucial ties.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh recounted that Nkrumah arrested the chiefs of Annor, relocated the regional capital of the Volta Region from Hohoe to Ho, and subsequently imprisoned the chiefs from Hohoe.
He claimed that chiefs from Accra and Muslims from Zongo communities, united by their shared plight, subsequently formed their political parties in response to these actions, eventually contributing to the formation of the United Party.
According to Dr. Opoku Prempeh, the NPP has historical connections with various political groups founded by these displaced chiefs. These connections have not only shaped the party’s origins but also influenced its policies and actions. He emphasized that the party’s origins are intertwined with the experiences of these traditional leaders, and this influence is still evident in the party’s approach to governance and its commitment to upholding traditional values.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh also mentioned that his party, the NPP, has garnered support from chiefs across Ghana. He noted that many chiefs he has visited, including those from Togbe Sri, Kete Krachi, Akwamufie, and other regions, have affirmed their allegiance to the party. He cited these endorsements as evidence of the NPP’s unwavering commitment to representing Ghanaian interests.
Furthermore, Dr Opoku Prempeh linked the current NPP leadership to this historical narrative, highlighting that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the party’s presidential candidate, is also from a royal family. He claimed that Bawumia’s father joined the Convention People’s Party (CPP) to prevent the arrest of the Mamprusi chief by Nkrumah, who was allegedly intent on removing traditional leaders who opposed him.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s comments provide a provocative perspective on the historical tensions between Nkrumah’s administration and Ghana’s traditional leadership, framing them as a critical backdrop to the NPP’s origins and ongoing political narrative.
