The Member of Parliament-elect for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, has dismissed claims by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that its Minority Leader and other senior figures have been threatened by officials of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

His comments follow a statement issued by the NPP, in which the party condemned what it called death threats and threats of physical assault issued against its Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh.

The alleged threats were said to have come from NDC First National Vice Chairman Chief Sofo Azorka and Abuakwa North Constituency Communication Officer, Alhaji Abdul Wahab Amadu.

The statement, signed by the party’s General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, urged the security services to take swift action against the alleged perpetrators.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews on Wednesday, September 3, Mr. Baidoo said he was unaware of any threats to the life of the Minority Leader or other opposition leaders.

According to him, such allegations are a diversionary tactic by the NPP to shift attention from its defeat in the by-election.

“I’m not aware of any threat to the life of the Minority Leader. You see, when you lose elections, I know it’s difficult. They have to find a way to say something, to divert attention as though something untoward happened in Akwatia,” he said.

Mr. Baidoo acknowledged that some NPP officials engaged in acts such as defacing his posters on election day, which he described as illegal, but insisted his party chose not to be distracted.

"We are not interested in pettiness. I do not know who threatened him, if somebody threatened him, and he has evidence. He is a senior lawyer. He knows what to do. My focus is on Akwatia and how to develop Akwatia," he added.