The opposition New Patriotic Party has been hit by allegations of inducement and corruption ahead of its elections, less that 48 hours from now, to select regional executives.
The allegations have emerged largely from the party’s stronghold of the Ashanti Region where an aspiring Regional Chairman yesterday donated a three-storey building to the party to be used as office space.
The decision of the Regional Chairman to accept the donation has angered the other contenders who comlain of bias.
The National Chairman of the NPP, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey told Joy FM’s Top Story the issue complained was not a problem; candidates are free to use money, if they have it.
He noted that different people have different strengths, and so far as politics is concerned, it is difficult to stop them from maximizing their strengths.
“If you speak well, go and speak well; if you are a good organizer, go and show that you are a good organizer, if you have money, then use the money, if you have time and patience show people that you have time and patience; whatever your strength is, make sure that is displayed,” he said.
But the former deputy Attorney General under the Kufuor administration, Osei Kwame Prempeh, who is contesting the Ashanti Regional Chairmanship position, told Top Story the leadership of the party appears to have already taken positions to promote their favorites.
“They are trying by everything to corrupt the system; everything has been skewed against me,” he said.
Mr Prempeh described the conduct of the campaign as “unethical” but said he would not lodge any formal complaint.
He also alleged that the storey building was not a donation but a rented apartment which was handed over to the party in a form of a donation.
Nonetheless, he said the action is sending wrong signal about the party, and warned “let nobody justify things which are wrong”.
Mr Prempeh wondered whether the party would have the moral right to speak against their political opponents if they do same.
He was however confident the gesture would not influence delegates’decision in Saturday's elections.
On his part, Director of Elections for NPP, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, said the party considers the issue raised “very serious”.
But he said the party would have no problem if the action "does not curtail the participation of any candidate".
He strenuously refrained from making decisive statements about whether the donation in Ashanti Region offends any rule in the party, and charged the regional election committee to ensure a level playing field for all.
The man accused of inducing regional executives with the donation of the three-storey building, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, has defended his action.
He said this is not the first time he is making a donation to the party and challenged his critics to channel their energy into furnishing the building.
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