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Dr Ernest Opoku, an independent parliamentary aspirant in the 2016 elections, has refuted rumours that he has demanded cash from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in exchange for his withdrawal from the legislative poll in the Atwima Kwanwoma constituency.

Word had gained ground in the area that Dr Opoku had met NPP flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during a recent tour by the three-time presidential aspirant of the Ashanti Region, where the MP aspirant had communicated his willingness to shelve his parliamentary ambitions if the party would offer him GHS40000 as compensation.

But, reacting to the reports on Accra News on Saturday June 11, Dr Opoku, who is seeking to unseat the incumbent Kwadwo Appiah-Kubi of the NPP, said such talk were “lies”.

He said his wish to make it to Ghana’s law-making house was to enable him address the lack of development and opportunities afflicting the Atwima Kwanwoma constituency and its people.

According to him, among others, there was no government hospital in the area, roads were in bad shape, and the constituency, which lies just outside the Kumasi metropolis, could not boast of adequate decent toilet facilities in its 53 communities while no educational scholarships existed for students from the area.

He disclosed that his detractors had first sought to paint him black to constituents that he was a mole of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) planted by President Mahama in the constituency to thwart the re-election of the NPP’s candidate. However, he continued, when that propaganda was shot down, a fresh allegation of soliciting bribes from some NPP executives was subsequently fabricated.

“I assure the people of Atwima Kwanwoma that there is no way I can be bought with money. I have never said anywhere that I should be given money before I turn down my candidacy. Come November 7, 2016, Dr Ernest Opoku is definitely going to be a member of the parliamentary elections at Atwima Kwanwoma,” he promised.