President John Mahama’s campaign has publicly distanced itself from the activities of a National Democratic Congress (NDC) fundraising group called Volunteers for Mahama, which recently drew flack taking campaign contributions from government agencies. The group was reported to have received money from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, (GIPC) ostensibly to help garner support for the ruling party. A Daily Guide report on Monday, November 26, 2012 published the image of a signed cheque from the Centre to Volunteers for Mahama. GIPC head George Aboagye would not confirm or deny the payment, he would only say that investigations into the matter have begun. Mahama himself described the action as "unethical and unacceptable." A statement signed by Hanna Tetteh, Communications Director of the Mahama campaign, condemned the GIPC’s actions, which the statement says violate the tenets of the Political Parties Act. “We therefore wish to request the Group to refund any monies that they may have received from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre at once, and certainly within 24 hours." It also urged other organisations to desist from such acts. The following is the full statement. PRESS STATEMENT FROM THE JOHN MAHAMA 2012 CAMPAIGN REGARDING SOLICITATION OF FUNDS BY VOLUNTEERS FOR MAHAMA The John Mahama 2012 Campaign wishes to disassociate itself from the recent actions of a group of campaigners referred to as Volunteers for Mahama who have been canvassing for support for the John Mahama 2012 Campaign. While we do appreciate the support given by groups such as Volunteers for Mahama, we do not subscribe to their request for funding support from Government Agencies. We therefore wish to request the Group to refund any money’s that they may have received from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre at once, and certainly within 24 hours. We further would like to bring to the attention of all sympathizers, campaigners and affiliates of the NDC that soliciting funds from State Organizations is unacceptable, unethical and we believe not to be in line with the tenets of the Political Parties Act (Act 574). In the circumstances we are instructing all our sympathisers and affiliate organizatons not to solicit funds from any state agencies or entities that do not conform to the provisions on party financing in this Act. We take a very serious view of this conduct and consider it to be unacceptable and we advise all those who are working for the success of our campaign in the 2012 election to take note of this directive. We encourage all our sympathizers and loyalists to work hard for the success of the party in the 2012 election, in order that the Party achieves resounding success in the upcomming elections which are not much more than a week away. Let us continue to demonstrate to the People of Ghana our commitment to be working for them. Hanna S. Tetteh Communications Director John Mahama 2012 Campaign 26th November 2012.