Fiifi
Boafo,
the
spokesperson
for
the
New
Patriotic
Party
(NPP)
running
mate
Dr.
Matthew
Opoku
Prempeh,
has
downplayed
the
controversy
surrounding
Dr.
Opoku
Prempeh’s
recent
comments
comparing
the
achievements
of
President
Akufo-Addo
to
those
of
Ghana’s
first
President,
Kwame
Nkrumah.
According
to
Fiifi
Boafo,
Dr.
Opoku
Prempeh,
popularly
known
as
NAPO,
did
not
intend
to
denigrate
Nkrumah’s
legacy
but
only
expressed
a
strong
personal
view.
During
his
unveiling
ceremony
in
the
Ashanti
Region
on
Tuesday,
July
9,
NAPO
claimed
that
no
president
in
Ghana’s
history
has
performed
better
than
President
Akufo-Addo.
This
statement
has
sparked
various
reactions,
with
many
calling
for
an
apology
and
retraction.
However,
speaking
on
Eyewitness
News
on
Wednesday,
July
10,
Boafo
suggested
that
instead
of
criticising
NAPO,
critics
should
provide
evidence
to
support
or
refute
his
claims.
He
emphasised
that
the
essence
of
NAPO’s
message
was
to
argue
that
the
current
government
has
done
well
and
that
any
contrary
view
should
be
backed
by
evidence.
“It
is
not
an
imposition.
The
fact
that
NAPO
has
said
it
[doesn’t]
mean
that
he
is
forcing
it
down
your
throat.
He
holds
a
strong
view
on
that,
and
it
is
that
the
government
has
done
well.
If
you
have
a
contrary
view,
you
are
free
to
advance
your
argument
and
say,
‘I
disagree
with
your
point,
and
this
is
the
reason
why
I
disagree
with
your
point.’
“But
the
sad
thing
is
that
people
are
not
ready
to
offer
a
contrary
position
backed
by
evidence
to
say
that
we
believe
that
Nkrumah
did
A,
B,
and
C,
and
so
we
believe
that
Nkrumah
did
better
than
Akufo-Addo,”
he
stated.
“I
have
even
heard
statements
from
some
people
who
say
they
are
members
of
the
CPP…and
because
he
mentioned
Nkrumah’s
name,
it
is
a
crime.
I
don’t
believe
that
is
a
crime,
and
it
is
the
reason
Dr
Prempeh
was
making
the
point
that
he
doesn’t
feel
intimidated
to
the
effect
that
he
cannot
even
express
a
view.
“If
you
disagree
with
him,
you
can
give
evidence
to
that
effect.
It
does
not
mean
that
you
cannot
hold
a
position
or
have
an
opinion.
What
is
the
point
of
serving
in
a
government
if
you
cannot
defend
it?”
he
quizzed.
Meanwhile,
Dr.
Matthew
Opoku
Prempeh
defended
his
comment,
stating
that
it
sadly
appears
in
Ghanaian
politics
that
those
who
speak
the
truth
are
labeled
disrespectful
while
those
who
lie
are
praised.