The former First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and former Member of Parliament for the Bekwai Constituency, Joe Osei-Owusu, has dismissed claims that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) sidelined former President John Agyekum Kufuor in the run-up to its National Delegates Conference.

Mr Osei-Owusu, popularly known as Joe Wise, who is also the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, made the remarks during an interview with JoyNews on Saturday, July 19.

His response follows recent expressions of frustration by the 86-year-old former President, who lamented being excluded from key party affairs, saying his age should not be grounds for marginalisation.

• Read also: I’m not too old to be ignored, I’ve sacrificed for NPP – Kufuor laments exclusion

However, Joe Wise maintained that there is no evidence to support the claim that President Kufuor was sidelined. “Every issue requiring his input was communicated to his designated officers,” he clarified.

He explained further that the former President’s request for a postponement of the conference could not be granted because preparations had already reached an advanced stage.

• Read also: Nana Akomeah explains why NPP rejected Kufuor’s petition to postpone national conference

“The suggestion that he was ignored is inaccurate. The party respects President Kufuor immensely, but the conference arrangements were far too progressed when his request came in,” Mr Wise noted.

The NPP’s National Delegates Conference is currently underway at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.