Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the 2024 running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has admitted that some of his own utterances leading to the 2024 election contributed to the party’s defeat.
According to Napo, his own gaffes contributed to the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 election.
Speaking in an interview with JOYNEWS when asked by Evans Mensah in his reflection what he thinks his role was that contributed to the NPP’s defeat, NAPO stated, “ the NAPO gaffes it been public, probably very well misunderstood, but I can tell one, and I can tell you two. I can admit three”.
Napo, during the interview, clarified certain statements he made leading up to the 2024 elections.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO) clarified that the “mo Kwame Nkrumah” remarks in the run-up to the 2024 elections were taken out of context and completely misunderstood.
He argued that the public outrage that followed his comment was interpreted as an attack on Ghana’s first President.
NAPO further highlighted his remark in comparison to a football banter to emphasise that arguing that he was not attacking Kwame Nkrumah.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh stated, “At that time, you can’t go into the evidence, so I made a statement ‘mo Kwame Nkrumah’, and I subsequently had to go to Nkroful and speak to the Chiefs there and explain the contest in which the statement was made,” he said.
“Because in politics, if somebody misunderstands, misquotes, or you allow your communication to be misread or to be misunderstood, you have to own it. So I owned it, and that is why I issued the statement,” he said.
He added, “Not that the context was wrong. I’m a die-hard fan of Kumasi Asante Kotoko. So if I’m teasing Olympic supporters and I said ‘mo Oly fuo no’, I’m not really insulting Olympic fans. I’m just upping Kotoko fuo because I am one of them”.
The former NPP running mate acknowledged, “It was totally misunderstood, and it generated a lot of uproar. Nkrumahists got furious, and I apologise to them,” he said. But he urged critics to reflect on Nkrumah’s own writings.
“They should go and read Kwame Nkrumah’s Last Days from Guinea and look at how he described his own Convention People’s Party (CPP). He said the CPP was dead. That’s Nkrumah’s own writing, so we don’t say these things out of lack of respect. You know me. I have friends everywhere,” he noted.
In a subsequent post by Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, he further highlighted the interview, “In my recent conversation with Evans Mensah, I acknowledged that some of my own public statements during the 2024 election season contributed to the disaffection many felt toward our campaign”.
NAPO added that leadership requires honesty, and honesty begins with accepting one’s share of responsibility.
He added, “Leadership requires honesty, and honesty begins with accepting one’s share of responsibility. Every one of us, including New Patriotic Party (NPP: Development in Freedom) leaders, members, communicators, organisers and supporters must be willing to look in the mirror and reflect on what we could have done better. That is the only way to rebuild trust, restore unity, and become a stronger Party and a stronger nation.
For me, this period has been one of deep reflection, learning, and growth. I am committed to engaging and listening more, and to contributing to a political culture that places service above ego, Ghana above self, and truth above convenience.
We cannot change yesterday, but we can take responsibility for it and use it to build a better tomorrow”.
Watch the video below:
My "NAPO gaffs" contributed to NPP defeat in 2024 election – Mathew Opoku Prempeh, NPP 2024 running mate.#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/YvlWfeE684
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) November 25, 2025
In my recent conversation with Evans Mensah, I acknowledged that some of my own public statements during the 2024 election season contributed to the disaffection many felt toward our campaign.
— Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (@MatthewOPrempeh) November 25, 2025
Leadership requires honesty, and honesty begins with accepting one’s share of… pic.twitter.com/NWG7eqKvVV