The General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, revealed this on Accra-based Radio Gold.

[contextly_sidebar id=”MZctnkcuu6Zk8RRSwiTfN6xXblwas5rA”]The NDC MP, told Citi News on the sidelines of the party’s Unity Walk at Somanya in the Eastern Region, that they were working hard to win power in the 2020 elections, after which they will free Abuga Pele, who was jailed alongside businessman, Philip Assibit for causing financial loss to the state.

“It is unfortunate but I can only say that this will not dampen the spirit of the NDC. Between 2001 and 2004, they sentenced Tsatsu Tsikata, Dan Abodakpi, Ibrahim Adam and Kwame Peprah. It did not stop us from winning elections in 2008. We are going to win the elections and bring Abuga Pele out,” Nii Lante had stated.

Hours after the comment was published by Citi News and received widespread criticism from Ghanaians, the party’s founder, Jerry John Rawlings condemned Nii Lante’s comments, saying such mindsets could keep the party in opposition for a long time.

The NDC then issued a statement and distanced itself from the comment. It also stated categorically that it had no plans to free Abuga Pele, as suggested by the MP, should they win power.

Defending the party’s position, Mr. Nketia explained that the rebuttal was necessary because the MP failed to retract and apologize for the comment when he personally contacted him.

“He made claims about the party that are not correct so we came to set the records straight. He has the right to state his position but if a comment is made to implicate the party the gatekeepers will have to set the records straight. I did contact him (Nii Lantey Vanderpuye). He was the first person I spoke to but he insisted that he stands by that statement,” Mr. Asiedu Nketia said.

Background

Abuga Pele, a former NDC MP for Chiana Paga, was sentenced alongside the Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill International Group, Philip Assibit, to a combined jail-term of 18 years on various counts, including willfully causing financial loss to the state.

Pele was handed a four and six-year sentence which will run concurrently whilst Assibit got concurrent sentences of 12 and four years on different counts.

The court also ordered the state to recover all assets and money belonging to the state from the convicts.

Philip Assibit has since served notice will be appealing his 16-year jail term alongside an application for bail.  The case, which had been running for four years, was started by the NDC administration under John Mahama.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nii Lante refused to apologize for ‘reckless’ comment – Asiedu Nketia appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

His plea comes on the back renewed tensions between supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the constituency.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SNEZN6GI9IjEN1d94AGQArfkBXEBeTHN”]Speaking to Citi News, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye assured that he would be a member of parliament for all the political party supporters in the constituency, regardless of the longstanding rivalry.

“We are a family and we decided that we should live in peace with our brothers and sisters. We thank God that no life was lost. We plead that all of them forgive one another. I have since been preaching peace and I am hoping that my people have accepted it good faith,” Mr. Vanderpuye said.

“Until the elections are done, I am still their MP and as such, I would want them to understand that I am preaching peace and any of them can come to me and share ideas on the way for this community.”

The Odododiodio Constituency has seen eruptions of violence between supporters of the NPP and the NDC, with the most recent being the violent clash between supporters of Mr. Vanderpuye and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the area, Nii Lante Bannerman on November 8.

Mr. Vanderpuye, had alleged that, the NPP’s Nii Lante Bannerman masterminded the attacks on his supporters when his team ended a rally at Jamestown in the constituency.

He further threatened to take the law into his own hands, if the Police failed to intervene in the long-standing dispute.

The clashes reportedly left two persons critically injured, and led to the arrest of three persons who have since been granted bail by the police.

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Odododiodio troubles: Nii Lantey preaches forgiveness after clashes appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The exercise saw over four thousand elderly people being diagnosed and treated for various health conditions.

According to the MP, the programme was organised to celebrate the aged and give them a sense of belonging in society.

Speaking to Citi News’ Philip Nii Lartey, Nii Lante Vaderpuye, who doubles as Ghana’s Sports Minister, said this year’s event had been an improvement over what had been done in previous years.

He noted that, he had received support from the Gender Minister, Nana Oye Lithur, to provide food for all those who were participated in the exercise.

“This year is exemplary because I had the support from Ministry Of Gender And Social Protection, I also got the support from NDC medical outreach team. The attendance was overwhelming; we were expecting just about two thousand five hundred people; but according to the doctor’s record; we had close to four thousand one hundred people above the age of 65,” he said.

He added that, before the health screening exercise, the elderly were taken on a tour of the national capital, Accra.

He noted that “the most significant part of the event was when they were taken round Accra to see the new Accra. They visited the museum, Kwame Nkrumah circle and other places. We did this because some of these old folks have been locked up in rooms for a very long time; so it was important to bring them out to receive some fresh air,” he said.

–

By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nii Lante Vanderpuye holds free medical screening for aged appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.