NRP candidate accuses CPP of bribery

THE National Reform Party (NRP) parliamentary candidate for Cape Coast, Mr Kweku Orleans-Lindsay, has thrown a political bombshell, accusing the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) of trying to bribe him to step down.

Mr Orleans-Lindsay has alleged that the CPP parliamentary candidate for Cape Coast, Madam Araba Bentsi-Enchill, has been pestering him with unspecified amounts of money to step down and defect to the CPP.

Mr Orleans-Lindsay, who went to the Graphic Office at Cape Coast to lodge the complaint, alleged that Madam Bentsi-Enchill has sent emissaries with money on many occasions to try to convince him to abandon the NRP.

He alleged that he has also turned down invitations sent to him by the CPP candidate for a discussion concerning his defection.

He said even though he has made his position clear that he would not abandon the NRP, Madam Bentsi-Enchill has not relented in her plans to force him to step down as a candidate for the NRP.

Mr Orleans-Lindsay alleged that recently the CPP candidate managed to lure his campaign manager to convey some NRP suppporters to a CPP rally at Essuekyir.

He alleged that Madam Bentsi-Enchill has gone further to make statements at rallies that Orleans-Lindsay has stepped down as NRP candidate to support the CPP to win the Cape Coast seat.

In spite of these acts of provocation, he said he and his supporters have remained resolute.

He assured his supporters that he is still the NRP candidate for Cape Coast and is working hard to win the elections.

Meanwhile, Madam Bents-Enchill has described the allegations as false and calculated to tarnish her hard-won image and destroy her chances of winning the elections.

Speaking in an interview, the CPP candidate said: "I don't know this boy from Adam. I have never met him. I have never mentioned his name on any of my platforms."

Madam Bentsi-Enchill said since she started serious campaigning, supporters of other political parties, including those of the NRP, have voluntarily crossed carpet to the CPP because of the party's development-oriented message for the people.

"In fact, the NRP does not pose any threat at all to the CPP. The only persons I mention on my platforms are the NPP and NDC parliamentary candidates because they are CPP's main challengers and not the NRP," she maintained.

Fuming at the whole issue, Madam Bentsi-Enchil threatened to take legal action against Mr Orleans-Lindsay to protect her reputation.