Kennedy Agyapong, a flagbearer aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana, has accused some of his rivals of selling slots in the Ghana Police Service to their supporters. He claimed that some people had to pay up to 10,000 cedis (about $1,700) to get recruited into the police force.
Agyapong made the allegations at a rally over the weekend, where he also criticised the government’s economic policies and the impact of the Domestic Debt Exchange programme, which he said wiped away the savings of the middle class and pensioners. He said these factors contributed to the NPP’s loss of the 2024 election in 2022.
Flagbearer contest
The NPP is currently gearing up to select its official flagbearer who would represent the party for the presidential seat in the 2024 general elections. Agyapong is competing against vice-president Mahumudu Bawumia, former Minister for Agriculture Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai Nimo.
The NPP is expected to hold its national delegates conference on November 4 to elect its flagbearer for the 2024 general elections. Agyapong drew the first slot in the balloting process, followed by Bawumia, Akoto and Nimo. Agyapong said this was a sign that God had chosen him to lead the party and break the eight-year cycle of power alternation between the NPP and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Police response
The Ghana Police Service has not yet responded to Agyapong’s allegations of corruption in its recruitment process. However, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has announced that it has begun investigations into suspected corruption and abuse of office in respect of the recruitment exercise of course 51 cadet officers training at the Ghana Police Academy.
The police service has also warned the public to be wary of fraudsters who may take advantage of its recruitment process to swindle people. The police service said it has an official website and social media platforms where it publishes information on its recruitment activities.
Despite his harsh criticism of the government and his rivals, Agyapong said he was hopeful that the NPP could still win the 2024 elections if it chose a visionary leader who could address the challenges facing the country. He said he was ready to serve the people and bring positive change to Ghana.
Source: Ghana Web
