A member of the Governing Board of the Office of the Special Prosecutor has expressed disappointment over the defence of the New Patriotic Party Chairman, on the controversial purchase of buses.

Linda Ofori-Kwafo maintains that the 275 buses procured by Freddy Blay for his party’s constituencies amount to vote buying.

Speaking to Joy News’ Kojo Yankson, Mrs Ofori-Kwafo argued that the explanation offered by Mr Blay and some other NPP officials that he [Mr Blay] is not the first to procure materials for the party does not sit well with her.

“…people are telling me that in the past other people did it, If something was wrong in the past must we repeat it,” she quizzed.

Linda Ofori-Kwafo

Mrs Ofori-Kwafo who criticized the buying of the buses said she is unconvinced by the spirited defence of the NPP chair. “I still stand by the fact, that act is not good enough because it has the potential to influence the outcome of an election”.

Related: 1 Constituency, 1 bus: GII, NDC accuse Blay of monetizing politics

“Anybody, I’m sure even class one pupils will tell you if you if give toffees out before the class prefect is elected, it could influence people to vote for you,” she added.

She said that the expensive nature of the venture may not sit well with the masses especially the uneducated section who may interpret the buses to be from the party.

“It creates a bad picture for people who might not understand these matters. It doesn’t matter if it is Freddy Blay who got them, my grandmother in the village will never understand. They will say the NPP party was able to give out vehicles for an internal affair,” she said.

She teased that if the NPP chair could buy buses because of a party election, then the party may engage in the distribution of houses for General elections.

The NPP Chairman, Mr Blay, secured a loan to purchase some 275 buses for all the constituencies across the country for the NPP to put to commercial use.

Related: It’s ‘foolish’ to question the timing of buying my buses – Freddie Blay

The arrival of the first batch of the buses [few days to NPP National Executives elections] has however attracted criticism from a wide section of the public who accuse Mr Blay of vote buying.

Mr Blay who has mounted a spirited defence said it is ‘foolish’ for people to question the timing of the buses.

He argued that the process began long ago so he doesn’t know where the accusations are coming from.