The Founder and President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, says both former President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and President Akufo-Addo share the same legacy of bankrupting Ghana.
He drew parallels between the two leaders, citing Ghana’s financial ruins. His comments come after Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the running mate of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, compared the current president’s performance to Nkrumah’s, stating that Akufo-Addo had done incredibly well.
Following a massive backlash, Dr. Opoku Prempeh, affectionately known as NAPO, apologised for his comments, clarifying that he did not intend to denigrate Ghana’s first President.
During an interview on The Big Issue on Channel One TV, Mr. Cudjoe stated that there is nothing wrong with NAPO’s statement, citing similar comparisons made in the past.
He acknowledged NAPO’s opinion but emphasised that attempts to rewrite history will not succeed.
The IMANI Africa President criticised the current president for failing to deliver on his mandate, questioning why he failed to draw lessons from his predecessors
“There’s a need for comparison, and upon hindsight, I think many could have probably been saying something similar. I think I have seen on our news items, dating back to Rawlings’ time, when somebody said Rawlings was far ahead of Nkrumah. And I kept saying that every era has some levels of political idiocy, which is allowed, we allow these things.
“Probably, the only near truth to comparing Nana Addo [President] to Nkrumah is that they both bankrupted the economy, by the time they were forced out of power. They had both bankrupted the economy, but Nana Addo [President] much more, because he had much freer money. And he should have been a bit wiser, because he had so much to learn from previous leaders and pitfalls…This administration had the most money.
“That is the only comparison I can make, in terms of actual fact, pound for pound, not at all. It’s like daylight and darkness. But he’s [NAPO] permitted. I don’t even know why he actually apologised. Because frankly speaking, that is what he believes in, right? He believes in that… Just trying to re-write history, it doesn’t wash.”
He said President Akufo-Addo has dictatorial tendencies, similar to those of Nkrumah, citing the case of former Auditor General Daniel Domelevo, who was allegedly forced out of office.
“Not listening, not paying attention to any sound advice… Nkrumah was quite stubborn remember that. He became dictatorial and all that, I’m not saying he is a dictator, but he has those tendencies. Look at Domelevo’s treatment.”
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