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“NPP Grassroots For Power 2016”, a newly created group within the opposition New Patriotic Party, last Tuesday flattered to deceive at the International Press Center as they failed woefully to field questions posed by The New Crusading GUIDE ironically at a press conference called to specifically set records straight, publications by the paper.

The group said to be from the stables of Mr. Afoko had made unsubstantiated allegations about The New Crusading GUIDE and its Editor-in-Chief (On leave), Abdul Malik Kweku Baako but when this paper put them to strict proof, they were miserably panting for breath.

This paper sought to know whether Mr Afoko whom the group had rented the premises to defend, had given his approval for their action, one of the leaders, Charles McCarthy retorted that “It does not matter. The same way Kweku Baako did not get approval of NPP to speak, we think we are Ghanaians and we have the right to take you (Gordon Asare-Bediako) and your paper on. I am happy you are here. The last edition (Thursday), he told us page 3, page 4, page 10 will carry this war of attrition and sadly it was only page three you put it. I have bought all the papers just to expose you so the war of attrition has become war of attention”, amidst laughter from the media persons.

When asked if any member of the ‘NPP Grassroots For Power 2016’ was a participant in the NPP/Serbia training program in 2014, Mr Macarthy once again beat about the bush but disclosed that none of them was a participant. “the same way Kweku Baako was not part...the same way you were not there, we were equally not there so we all have our facts”.

The answers provided by the group drew shouts from the media as they seemed confused on what really was the aim of the press conference and locus of the group especially when Macarthy said the group was not in a position to speak on behalf of Mr. Afoko.

Mr Afoko in an interview with the Africawatch magazine had said that “When we got to the hotel, I saw our people all over the place with two Serbians, a man and a woman, but I was told the Serbians were four and that two had left. I walked in and saw the National Organizer, John Boadu, and I asked him what was going on. He was holding a piece of paper, and I snatched the paper out of his hands. It was the training contents and I was shocked to my bones at what I was reading. THESE PEOPLE WERE OUT OF THEIR MINDS. THEY WANTED TO WIN THE ELECTIONS ON THE STREETS OF GHANA AND NOT AT THE BALLOT BOX”.

However, when the group with the sole aim of setting the records straight was asked whether the suspended NPP National Chairman had any evidence to back that particular claim, the group chickened out saying “unfortunately, I am not here to speak for Mr Afoko” which again drew shouts of ‘ahhhh’, ‘but’ ‘but’ from the media compelling him to engage some media personnel who had also raised their hands.

He went ahead to engage himself in tangential issues after which he directed this paper to contact Mr. Afoko for any clarification.

On whether Mr Afoko officially inaugurated the program, he said “we have told you here that the program started on the 5th July, 2014....No, he did not” after which he said he was no more going to field questions posed by this paper.

The group further claimed to have the audio of Mr. Baako speaking on Peace Fm to the effect that he was in possession of the audio and video recordings of the training and therefore challenged him to produce them. However, when the paper corrected that erroneous impression and challenged the group to play the audio to the hearing of media, they could not.

The supposed setting the records straight charade was in sharp contrast with what some Regional Executives of the Party who participated in the said training had openly narrated and published by this paper.

While the group claims the NPP/Serbian training at Vitara Hotel commenced on 5th July, 2014, the participants insist it commenced on 8th July with 7th July as the reporting date.

In the  Monday 16th May, 2016 edition, The New Crusading GUIDE published that “When you (Gordon Asare-Bediako) interviewed me last week, I was bold enough to snap a photograph with you because I knew I was telling the truth so Mr. Afoko should be bold and stop hiding behind unknown sources to defend him. Let the so called executives who said they were at the program own up. I am telling you that what Mr. Afoko put out in the Africawatch magazine was a falsehood”, stated Kwame Appiah Kodua, Eastern Regional NPP Organizer.

“Let me put it on record that the arrival date for the program was on July 7, 2014. Most of us arrived late in the evening because we travelled from afar and the opening was on July 8, 2014 where Mr Afoko and Mr. Kwabena Agyepong came to officially open the program. I must put it on record that Mr. Afoko did not come to the program in a mourning dress so it could be that after the funeral service, he changed his dress to suit the occasion”, explained Mr. Kodua in a telephone chat last Friday.

Mr. Isaac Seidu Upper West NPP Organizer also in a telephone interview over the weekend, expressed surprise at the “shadow boxing by Mr. Afoko. If the people quoted by the newspapers were really at the training, why are they hiding their identities? NPP does not have ghost executives so they should come out now”.

The two Executives said Mr. Afoko officially opened the program and promised that there “would be more of such programs to equip us win power at the polls”.

“The program was officially opened by the National Chairman (Afoko) and the General Secretary (Kwabena Agyepong). The General Secretary spoke first after which Mr. Afoko took over”, the Eastern Regional NPP Organizer told The New Crusading GUIDE in an interview”.

Please stay tuned as we bring you the narration of other participants in the NPP/Serbian training program.