Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin says President Akufo-Addo cannot influence the withdrawal of Carlos Ahenkorah as Tema West parliamentary candidate.

His comments come after several calls to the President for Mr Ahenkorah, who until July 3, 2020 was Deputy Trades and Industry Minister, to be removed as the governing NPP’s candidate after he flouted Covid-19 safety protocols.

But speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Arhin said the decision lies solely in the MP and party’s hands.

“That, unfortunately, will be a matter for the former deputy Minister himself and the party.

“If the party believes that he should stay on, definitely, why not, he’ll stay on,” he added.

The Tema West MP and former Deputy Trades Minister Thursday on Ekosiisen on Asempa FM admitted to visiting voter registration centers despite testing positive for Covid-19.

Although he indicated he was certain he placed no one at risk because he did not touch anyone, his action has received a lot of backlash from the public domain.

As a result, Mr. Ahenkora Friday tendered in his resignation as the Deputy Trades Minister.

Despite this move, President Akufo-Addo has been called on to ensure that he is removed as parliamentary candidate but Mr. Arhin says that is not within the president’s remit.

“If at the end of the day he believes he has to put down his candidature for the party in the Tema West Constituency, that I believe is up to him.

“The President has no view on this. At the end of the day, that decision rests solely with the former Deputy Minister himself and also the party,” he added.