NPP Reacts to NDC Allegations

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has refuted allegations made by the National Youth Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Haruna Iddrisu that the NPP used state vehicles and abused its incumbency to win the Wulensi by-elections.

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu in a media review programme, News File at the weekend said that the NPP used state vehicles for their campaign activities at Wulensi and used state security to intimidate NDC members which created panic among voters.

The NDC said the NPP distributed bicycles among other items to influence the electorate of Wulensi to vote for them.

However, the National Organiser of the NPP, Mr. Lord Commey in an interview with the ADM described the accusations as baseless and a distortion of facts. He said Mr. Haruna Idrissu is ignorant about what actually ensued at Wulensi hence his allegations.

"He specifically mentioned my name and said that the car that I was driving is GT 62 Q, a Nissan Patrol. Yes it is true I was driving that vehicle, but I am sorry that car is not a state vehicle."

Mr. Commey said there was a directive from the Party Headquarters and from the president, John Agyekum Kufuor that no state vehicle should be used in the campaign activities at Wulensi. Therefore, he said, the NPP hired vehicles from a private car rental firm to facilitate their movement to Wulensi.

"The press can check the fact. The vehicle is one of the hired rental cars that the NPP went out for because a circular had been issued out to all our Ministers of State not to use state vehicles.

"All the cars he saw there either came from Vicma Travel and Tours or from Sweet Home Travel and Tours."

On the issue of bicycles, he explained that they were given to party offices for campaign duties and not individuals.

"If they distributed theirs we did not because we sent bicycles and we saw they also brought bicycles. We sent them to our polling station executives there. The bicycles are still there, it is meant for party activities and they would be using it till 2004."

The NPP's Wumbei Karimu emerged winner after the Wulensi elections last week.