A former MP for Ayensuano in the Eastern Region has discredited claims purported to have implicated him for calling on NPP delegates to vote against Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary primaries because he’s a Muslim.
According to the Eastern Regional coordinator for the outgoing Trade minister, Samuel Ayeh – Paye, he had a private chat with a lady identified as Wendy Akuffo, where he was assessing the weight of an NPP Muslim Presidential candidate compared to an NDC Christian Presidential candidate.
In his view, he contended that considering the high Christian values in Ghana, NPP has a strong higher chance of winning the 2024 Presidential election should they present a Christian candidate.
He added that he never mentioned or called on anyone to vote against the Vice President in the upcoming internal elections of the NPP.
Read the full statement below
Disclaimer…
Press Statement From Samuel Ayeh-Paye
My attention has been drawn to some reports trending on both traditional and social media that, Samuel Ayeh-Paye is preaching religious lines against the Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia regarding the upcoming internal elections of the ruling New Patriotic Party that he is a Muslim, and I have been calling some party members to votes against him.
To set the record straight, what happens was that, on Wednesday, 12th January 2023, I was having a private discussion with one lady called Wendy Akuffo, via WhatsApp.
In the discussion, I assessed to weigh a Muslim presidential candidate against an NDC Christian presidential candidate.
I also suggested to her that due to the higher Christian population in Ghana, NPP should present a Christian as a presidential candidate.
I stated that NPP has a better chance of winning the 2024 election should we present a Christian as our candidate.
I never said in any of my private conversations with her that we should not vote for Dr. Bawumia because he is a Muslim.
The conversation was only based on the assessment of the chances of a Muslim candidate against a Christian candidate.
This lady, who I suspect was on agenda to trap me, fetched the discussion twisted it, and write on her Facebook wall claiming, I said Dr. Bawumia is Muslim so Christians should not vote for him.
To be on the record, I have a lot of respect for Muslims and also respect Christians and Muslims co-existing in this country and I will not do any to endanger the relations between the two religious groups.
I will there want to take this opportunity to apologize to the entire Muslim community and all who have been hurt by this twisted story and also state clearly that I never said in any of the discussions that Dr. Bawumia is a Muslim and should not be voted for.
…Signed…
Hon Samuel Ayeh Paye
Former MP, Ayensuano.
