In the run-up to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential election scheduled for November 4, 2023, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, a presidential hopeful, has responded for the first time to what he described as lies being circulated by his closest contender, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
During his address to delegates during his recent tour of the Northern region, Dr. Bawumia expressed his disappointment in the tactics being employed by his opponents.
He stated, “We’re about to make history in our party and history in this country. Unfortunately, due to the Super Delegates’ results, many of our opponents are becoming desperate and are foreseeing defeat on November 4. As a result, they have resorted to spreading lies and sowing disunity amongst us.”
Dr. Bawumia challenged the false claims currently circulating about him, specifically addressing three major lies. Firstly, he refuted the accusation that he gave all 275 constituency chairmen GHS100,000 and a pickup truck.
He emphasized that no such distribution had taken place, terming the claim as “ridiculous.”
Secondly, he dismissed the allegation that he plans to prevent polling station executives and electoral area coordinators from voting in the presidential election.
Dr. Bawumia clarified that he had supported the expansion of the electoral college to include these key stakeholders and assured his audience that they would continue to exercise their voting rights.
“Then they say, I will not allow in future, polling station executives and electoral area coordinators to vote in the Presidential election. I mean how can this happen since it’s not possible for me to stop polling station executives and electoral area coordinators from voting.
“This is a National Conference decision and I was very supportive of expanding the electoral college to allow polling station executives and electoral area coordinators to vote and by the grace of God, they will continue to vote. They will continue to vote.
What I actually want to do is to push for a new reform to allow electoral area coordinators to vote in an election of regional executives. So we want to rather expand and include everybody and we don’t want to reduce and so that lie must be put to rest.”
Lastly, he denied the claim that he had advocated for sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) to run unopposed, emphasizing that such a proposal would contradict the party’s democratic principles.
The third lie I have heard this morning is that I said all sitting MPs should go unopposed and that nobody should contest a sitting MP. How can I say that? The party constitution cannot even allow that. This party is stronger when we have democracy working so I will never say any sitting MP must go unopposed. There must be consensus in any constituency and so that lie should be left alone. But I say their tactics is if you miss the ball, don’t miss the man but as of this they will miss the man because we will not allow their lies to take root. ”
Dr. Bawumia expressed his commitment to allowing healthy competition within the party and emphasized the importance of achieving consensus in each constituency.
In conclusion, Dr. Bawumia reiterated his dedication to defeating these lies and maintaining the integrity and unity of the NPP. “We will not allow their lies to take root,” he declared, emphasizing that the upcoming presidential election would be a fair and transparent process. Dr. Bawumia urged the delegates to remain focused and united as the NPP works towards a successful outcome on November 4.
By Vincent Kubi