A retired police commissioner has dismissed claims that he blamed Ghana’s vice president for trying to influence the outcome of a parliamentary primary.
George Alex Mensah, who recently joined the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a candidate for the Bekwai constituency, said the allegations were fabricated to tarnish his reputation and create a rift between him and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
According to Mensah, the source of the false accusations was Nana Osei Afrifa, a co-host of a meeting with some NPP delegates at a guest house in Bekwai. Afrifa allegedly told the delegates that Bawumia had sent him and a police inspector to persuade them to vote for Mensah’s rival, Ralph Opoku-Adusei, who is a lawyer and an ICT expert.
Mensah said Afrifa also claimed that Bawumia had given them money to distribute to the delegates in exchange for their support for Opoku-Adusei. He said there was an audio recording of the meeting that confirmed Afrifa’s statements.
Mensah denied having any knowledge or involvement in the alleged bribery scheme and said he had never met or spoken to Bawumia about the primary. He said he respected Bawumia as the second-in-command of the country and would not do anything to undermine him.
Mensah called on the NPP leadership to investigate the matter and sanction those who were involved in the attempt to manipulate the primary. He said he was confident that he would win the primary and represent the NPP in the 2024 general election.
He also appealed to the NPP delegates and supporters in Bekwai to remain calm and united and not to fall for any propaganda or lies.
Why The Primary Matters
The NPP parliamentary primary in Bekwai is one of the most anticipated and contested in Ghana, as it pits Mensah against Opoku-Adusei, who is the incumbent MP and a close ally of Bawumia.
Bekwai is a stronghold of the NPP, which has won the seat in every election since 1992. The winner of the primary is likely to become the next MP for the constituency, unless there is a major upset from the opposition parties.
The primary is also seen as a test of Bawumia’s popularity and influence in the NPP, as he is widely expected to run for the party’s presidential nomination in 2024, when President Nana Akufo-Addo will complete his second and final term.
Bawumia, who is an economist and a former deputy governor of the Bank of Ghana, has been praised for his role in managing the economy and implementing digital reforms. He is also credited for attracting votes from the northern regions and the Muslim community, which have traditionally supported the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
However, Bawumia faces stiff competition from other potential candidates within the NPP, such as Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, Agriculture Minister Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.
A Hope for Clean Politics
The allegations of bribery and corruption in the NPP primary have raised concerns about the integrity and credibility of the party, which came to power in 2016 on a promise to fight graft and improve governance.
The NPP has been accused of several scandals involving its officials and appointees, such as the missing excavators case, the PDS deal, the Agyapa deal, and the Australia visa fraud.
The party has also faced criticism for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed over 1,000 lives and infected over 120,000 people in Ghana. The NPP has been accused of misusing funds, procuring substandard vaccines, and flouting safety protocols.
The NDC, which lost the 2020 election by a narrow margin, has challenged the results in court, alleging irregularities and fraud. The NDC has also boycotted some parliamentary activities and staged protests across the country.
Despite the political tension and turmoil, many Ghanaians hope that the NPP and the NDC will respect the rule of law and the will of the people, and work together to address the challenges facing the nation.
They also hope that the NPP will conduct a free and fair primary in Bekwai and other constituencies, and that the candidates will campaign on issues and policies, not on personalities and money.
Source: Modern Ghana
