NPP owes banks, others about $1m

There are credible reports the new national executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) headed by Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, inherited a debt of nearly US$1 million, the Daily Dispatch reports.

This is made up of loans from some banks, unpaid bills and others. The NPP, for example, owes Prudential Bank about $415,700.

Another issue is how the party used a GH¢50,000 cheque given to the party in the run-up to the 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

To refresh the minds of readers of the latent tensions between the new and old national executives, The Daily Dispatch reproduces a story published some weeks ago:

'JAKE ASKS NTOW - ARE YOUR 4x4S FOR NPP?’

The Central Region town of Mankessim was the venue of the handing over of reigns of authority at the national level for the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The newly elected executives, led by the National Chairman, Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey took over from the Peter Mac-Manu-Ied executives. There were a lot of interesting and tense moments outside the formal aspects of the handing over ceremonies.

One of such moments was a conversation/confrontation between Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey and the immediate past General-Secretary, Nana Ohene-Ntow. Below are excerpts from the chat:

JAKE: Nana, there are reports from some party insiders that there are, in your possession, certain properties belonging to the Party.

NANA: Which properties are they talking about?

JAKE: For example, the two four wheel vehicles that you have been using are said to belong to the party. What work have you been doing to be able to afford them?

NANA: Jake, what do you mean? You mean I cannot afford to buy these vehicles?

JAKE: Nana, there is no need to be angry. I am only relaying to you credible pieces of information we have picked up.

NANA: Jake, you mean you are going to run this party on rumours?

JAKE: No, wrong. We are going to run this party in an open and transparent manner.

Another area of concern during the handing over ceremony was the way and manner certain cheques for the party fell into wrong hands: A case in point is a GH¢50,000 cheque which had not been accounted for.

The Daily Dispatch got in touch with Nana Ohene-Ntow to find out whether such a confrontation or conversation took place. He declined to comment. We-spoke to Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey by telephone yesterday. He denied that a confrontation took place between himself and Nana Ohene-Ntow.

He however admitted that there were various levels of conversations between himself and other current and former National Executive Officers.