The campaign team of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has denied claims made by the Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, alleging that he was offered $800 million to step down from the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer race for the Vice President.
Flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Agyapong responded to a statement made by former Member of Parliament for Suhum, Frederick Opare-Ansah, concerning demands that he request $500 million to resign from his flagbearer candidature for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. The Assin Central MP said he was rather offered $800 million to drop out of the race.
In an interview on Time FM, Kennedy Agyapong said “Does he know the number of people who have approached me but for the love of Ghana and the delegates I have said I will never do it?
“The money they offered is $800 million if he doesn’t know. He should ask Mr. Oppong Bio if that is what they are saying, but I said no I will not step down, Ghana first. In 2016, you people were not able to buy pickups. How come today you can offer me $800 million? So I said I won’t step down”.
“Why would I take all this money for Ghana to go through hardship, I won’t do it and I have not done it. Besides that, several elders have called on me begging me to step down and become vice president”.
“But if you make me Vice President, I have been told to my face that the only way they (grassroots) will be voting for me is if I am leading Ghana, but I have been told that if I bring those who have served under this government, they won’t vote for me. So why should I even step down for us to go to the opposition? I won’t do it,” he said.
However, in a statement signed by Dr. Gideon Boako, spokesman for Dr. Bawumia, “the Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, has not met privately with Kennedy Agyapong since he entered the race’.
He also noted that the Vice President has never instructed anybody to meet with Kennedy Agyapong, or his assigns to negotiate anything in respect of this contest.
“The Vice President and his team consider this $800 million claim as absolutely ridiculous, and it shows a gross disregard for the intelligence of Ghanaians”.
“It is instructive to note that the latest allegation by Kennedy Agyapong, is a rehash of a similar allegation he made about a month ago, claiming without proof, that he was offered money to step down and be a running mate to Dr. Bawumia, a baseless claim we publicly denied on September 30, 2023”, Dr. Bawumia’s campaign team said.
Dr. Gideon Boako explained that Dr. Bawumia is and has always been confident that, by the grace of God, he will defeat Kennedy Agyapong quite well on November 4th and has never entertained any wish for him to step down from the contest.
He further expresses that the Vice President is a man noted for his modesty, and he remains committed to his lifelong values of serving people with his intellect.
Below is the statement
CLAIMS BY HON. KENNEDY AGYAPONG OF BEING OFFERED $800m TO STEP DOWN FALSE
It has come to the attention of the Bawumia Campaign that a fellow contender in the NPP Flagbearership race, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong has alleged that he was offered a colossal $800 million to step down from the presidential primary race.
The Bawumia Campaign, accordingly, wishes to respond as follows:
1. The Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia has not met privately with Kennedy Agyapong since he entered into the race.
2. The Vice President has never instructed anybody to meet with Kennedy Agyapong, or his assigns to negotiate anything in respect of this contest.
3. The Vice President and his team consider this $800 million claim as absolutely ridiculous, and it shows gross disregard for the intelligence of Ghanaians.
4. Dr. Bawumia is, and has always been confident that by the Grace of God, he will defeat Hon. Kennedy Agyapong quite well on November 4th and has never entertained any wish for him to step down from the contest.
5. It is instructive to note that the latest allegation by Kennedy Agyapong, is a rehash of a similar allegation he made about a month ago, claiming without proof, that he was offered money to step down and be a running mate to Dr. Bawumia – a baseless claim we publicly denied on September 30, 2023.
6. The Vice President is a man noted for his modesty, and he remains committed to his life-long values of serving people with his intellect.
7. While urging the public to disregard such outrageous lies, directed subtly at the Bawumia Campaign, we also reiterate Dr. Bawumia’s commitment to running a decent campaign devoid of personality attacks, lies, and insults to preserve the unity of our great party.
——-Signed ——-
Gideon Boako, Ph.D
Spokesperson
