Napo is humble, let's support him — Okuapemhene
The Okuapemhene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III, has strongly attested to the humility of Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh and encouraged Ghanaians to vote massively for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming general election.
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That, he said, would allow the solid foundations laid by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to continue in the Bawumia/Napo era. According to him, the decision of the NPP flag bearer and his running mate to seek the blessings and directions of traditional and religious leaders before embarking on their political campaigns lends credence to their humility and respect for tradition and religion.
"I know you are humble, judging from your background as a royal. All we are looking for from you is to be forthright and candid in all your dealings. If you have accepted being the running mate of Dr Bawumia, then you have to be his partner to do all the necessary work for him to succeed," he noted.
He stated that the Okuapem royal (President Akufo-Addo) had achieved so much that it would only be a matter of time before the many scattered achievements would come to the notice of Ghanaians.
He has, therefore, tasked the running mate and his team to sell the records of those achievements so that Ghanaians will vote massively for the NPP in the upcoming elections.
Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III made this remark when Dr Prempeh paid a courtesy call on him at his residence in Akropong yesterday
Traditional leader
Speaking further, the traditional leader noted that the initiative to incorporate chieftaincy and religious leadership into the nation's developmental agenda, spearheaded by Dr Bawumia and supported by Dr Prempeh, was commendable.
The Okuapemhene corroborated his claim, saying that Dr Prempeh's acknowledgement of the role traditional rulers played in the struggle for independence and the establishment of the UP tradition clearly showed the respect and dignity they intended to accord chieftaincy and religious institutions if Ghanaians gave them the mandate to continue their good works.
He congratulated Dr Prempeh on his elevation to the position of running mate, explaining that such a milestone was not achieved easily. "It is because of your hard work for the party and country that you have been chosen to partner Dr Bawumia, and I strongly believe that you will deliver," he noted.
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He urged Dr Prempeh, known in political circles as Napo, not to relent but rather work assiduously to support Dr Bawumia to win and retain power for the NPP.
"If you have been chosen as the running mate, it means all of us will rely on you and the leader. It also means that you have to be the backbone of the leader to ensure victory is achieved.
I strongly believe that when the NPP wins power, you will empower traditional leaders to reposition them in the development agenda of the country," he emphasised.
For his part, Dr Prempeh acknowledged the role chiefs played in the independence power struggle of the nation through their efforts of prayer and a sense of unity and coordination.
He further explained that the establishment of the UP tradition was through the efforts of traditional leaders, but anytime the history of Ghana was being told, the role traditional leaders played was often not acknowledged to the extent that it had become an adage that ‘chiefs don't meddle in politics’.
Peace
That notwithstanding, the chiefs, he added, had not stopped praying for the peace, unity and development of the community. He gave the assurance that when the NPP won power, they would be put in their rightful places to contribute meaningfully to the nation's development.
He then introduced the parliamentary candidates of Akuapem South, Eric Apeadu Yeboah, Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku, and Okere, Daniel Nana Addo Kenneth, to the Okuapemhene and appealed for his support for those candidates.