North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed strong reservations about the actions of the state intelligence institution, the National Investigation Bureau (NIB).

He emphasised that the NIB is funded by the taxes of all Ghanaians, not just members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, June 22, Mr Ablakwa criticised the government for using a state institution to conduct a poll about the selection of a running mate for its 2024 general elections flagbearer.

He argued that if the government wants to conduct such a poll, it should use its funds and engage academics or other organisations.

“There are so many organisations in this country, academics in the universities - go and engage them with your party money - dues from your members.

“Don’t use our organisation, a state-run organisation run with our taxes. This is abuse of office,” he stressed.

Mr Ablakwa’s remarks come after it emerged that the NIB reportedly conducted a survey on a potential running mate for the NPP flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Read also: Opoku Prempeh leads in NPP’s choice of running mate for Bawumia – NIB Survey

The survey indicated that the Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, was widely preferred over the Education Minister, Dr Osei Adutwum, and other party members as the running mate.

On the back of this, Mr Ablakwa pointed out that he had never seen a state intelligence institution conduct a poll for a governing party’s running mate.

“I’m only aware that getting into elections, the National Security apparatus will meet candidates and say that we want to assign national security operatives to protect all of you.

“So where is the poll they did to support the NDC presidential candidate, the CPP presidential candidate? Let’s stop this abuse of office,” Mr Ablakwa said.

He argued that the job of the NIB is to prioritise the national security interests of the country, questioning how conducting a poll on a potential running mate for the NPP flagbearer is relevant to national security.

“How does choosing NAPO, Adutwum or whoever become relevant to the national security interest of our country?

"..Serious mandate given to this body and you go about conducting NPP polls - with my taxpayer's money? How do they expect NDC members to feel, neutrals to feel? That’s what they are doing with our taxes,” he added.