The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service is investigating the First Vice-Chair of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Freddie Blay, and the Treasurer, Mr Abankwah Yeboah, over the alleged diversion of party funds.
According to a police invitation letter dated August 26, 2015 and signed by Mr R. V. Dedjoe, the Deputy Director-General of the CID, on behalf of the Director-General of the department, extended to the two executive members, they had expended party funds without resorting to laid down procedure.
“The CID Headquarters is investigating a case of alleged diversion of NPP funds by First Vice National Chairman, Freddie Blay, and the Treasurer, Mr Abankwah Yeboah, contrary to laid down party procedures.
“You are, therefore, kindly invited to meet the investigative team at the CID headquarters on Friday, August 28,2015,” the letter said.
Mr Blay has confirmed the invitation but told the media that he would not honour it.
“If it is invitation, I am declining, but if they are arresting me, then I have no choice. They should come and arrest me,” he said.
It is unclear who made the complaint against the two executive members, but police sources said it was in connection with funds collected during the party’s recently held parliamentary primaries.
A statement from the office of the National Chairman of the NPP and published by the Daily Graphic in its Monday edition warned that punitive action would be taken against the rank and file of the party found to have embezzled funds.
The statement, signed by the Spokesperson of the National Chairman, Nana Yaw Osei, stated, "This is the only way to ensure that monies belonging to the party and entrusted in the hands of those whose responsibility it is to perform certain functions for and on behalf of the party do not squander such resources."
But in a counter-accusation, Mr Blay said the National Chairman, Mr Paul Afoko, and the General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong, were mismanaging funds.
However, Mr Afoko had emphasised that any party member who embezzled party money or misused party resources “must be seen as an enemy to the party’s chances in the 2016 general election”.
He said the internal party cleansing of corruption was based on the incorruptibility of its 2016 flag bearer.
“We have a flag bearer who is incorruptible and it is the expectation of the National Chairman that all party members, especially office holders at all levels, will emulate the incorruptible nature of our flag bearer,” the statement added.
Although the statement did not make specific allegations, Afoko’s spokesperson condemned Mr Blay for sidelining the process of withdrawing money from the party’s account.
“It has never been the practice that the vice-chairperson or the first vice-chairperson will be a signatory to a party account,” he said on Joy News yesterday.
Explaining further, Mr Blay expressed disappointment that the National Chairman and the General Secretary were using the police to tackle an internal party matter.
He alleged that Mr Afoko had reported the matter to the Police CID who had invited him for questioning.
He said the two national executive members used Mr Baah Acheamfour to lodge a complaint at the police station, accusing him (Blay) of corruption.
Mr Blay is also accusing Mr Afoko and Mr Agyepong of rather hijacking the management of the party’s funds.
He said the party treasurer had refused to pay some GH¢5 million into an account controlled by Mr Afoko and Mr Agyepong. “It is because he fears the two national executive members will use the money without the knowledge of the treasurer or the steering committee,” Mr Blay alleged.
Responding to the allegations, a shocked Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Dominic Nitiwul, said he was outraged by recent developments in the party.
He said those allegations of financial impropriety came up at the National Executive Committee of the party, where a five-member committee was formed to look into the matter, saying that it is yet to present its report.
He declined to talk about party finances in public. “It is not wise; it is not in the interest of the party,” he maintained.
Mr Nitiwul would also not confirm the claim by the National Chairman of the NPP that the monthly financial support from the party’s Members of Parliament (MPs) had ceased since February 2015.
“They should all cease talking; they are doing the party a disservice!” he stressed.
The NPP became involved in a dispute after one section, including Mr Blay, began pushing for Afoko and Agyepong’s exit accusing them of sabotaging the party ahead of the 2016 general election.
The push started after the tragic death of the Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama, in May this year after somebody had poured acid on him.
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