Kumasi: Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, widely known as NAPO, has revealed that the controversy surrounding his comments about Ghana's first President, Kwame Nkrumah, escalated after individuals allegedly misrepresented his remarks to influential traditional leaders, including the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. The former Energy Minister recounted the sequence of events while addressing students at the University of Ghana, as captured in a video seen by MyNewsGh.
According to Ghana Web, the issue quickly reached the attention of the Asantehene the day after NAPO's speech. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II reportedly summoned him to discuss the matter, saying, "When are you coming to Kumasi? Because you have been reported to me." In response, Dr. Opoku Prempeh offered to provide the Asantehene with the original recording of his speech to clarify his actual statements. "I said, 'Your Majesty, I'll get you the tape so that you hear exactly what I said,'" NAPO recalled, emphasizing his willingness to clear any misconceptions directly.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh further alleged that the person who initially reported him to the Asantehene faced difficulties when questioned about the allegations and struggled to substantiate the claims. He noted that similar grievances were brought to other respected figures, leading to widespread assumptions that he had made statements he insists he never uttered. The controversy, he argued, shifted from his original speech to varying interpretations of his words, overshadowing the actual content of his remarks.