Friends funded my 2016 campaign, not Mahama – Clement Apaak

A former Presidential Staffer under the Mahama government, Dr Clement Apaak, has debunked allegations that his 2016 campaign was funded by the NDC government under the office of the president to knock out the PNC’s Alhassan Azong from parliament.

According to him, his campaign was fully funded by non-Ghanaian friends and families living both home and abroad.

Speaking on Eye Witness News yesterday, the former anti-corruption campaigner revealed “I never had any support from the Flagstaff House. I tell you that there were several others even in our own party who opposed my candidacy. It was through perseverance and my extended networks and the believe in me that I could contribute to our governance system as an MP”.

He however challenged anyone with evidence to come forth and prove the Flagstaff house funding support claim.

When asked by the host, Richard Dela Sky on how he funded his 2016 campaign, the anti-corruption campaigner said “we live in a world that is full of benevolence, if you are good at what you do and have a good record of service, there are people who see your potential and they decide to offer you assistance and help. So friends, both home and abroad, made very significant contributions to my campaign”, he told the host.

Dr Apaak in his submission further disclosed that, he was not able to quantify the funding sources that came in from his abroad friends since the money came in from different sources; as and when he was engaging in political activities.

“I’m not able to quantify that [funding sources], because campaign is a process depending on when you’re going to have political activity, so if I was going to have event I made a request and for example somebody gives you two thousand, another gives you three thousand and others four thousand, he said.

Although he was not clear whether the funding came in dollars or cedis, he categorically said “some of them [friends abroad] are Ghanaians, some are not”. I’m yet to appraise myself with that part of the constitution and you must remember that my associates are all over the world having lived in different parts of the world,” the newly elected NDC MP said on Citi FM.