The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Obimpeh has revealed that out of the 47 constituencies in the Ashanti Region, he only received campaign funds from 17 constituencies.
Commenting on Asempa FM on Monday about the confusion that rocked the NDC after the party’s poor show in the 2016 general election, Mr. Obimpeh said people who are known to have diverted party cash meant for the 2016 campaign should be brought to book.
He stressed that the party should set standards to guard against unacceptable behaviours incongruous to the party’s progress.
“I want the one who can stand up to me and point out that in the Ashanti Region they arranged for some cash to be given to us for organisation during the elections, which I messed up these funds. Nobody brought me money, apart from a national executive and his group who came to give us some GHS20,000.
Aside this money, nobody from the national headquarters sent any money to us. How much did they give us and we have misappropriated it? What came through from the headquarters a day before elections, out of the 47 constituencies in Ashanti Region, I only received that of 17 constituencies.”
“Even the one who brought the money I do not know him. I made my position clear to the Election Review Committee, that they should probe those matters,” he added.
He said: “If it turns out that I embezzled the funds I should be penalised for that, so that it would serve as a deterrent to others. I have the party at heart; hence I would not do anything to jeopardise it.”
Mr. Obimpeh noted that every member of the party should be blamed for the defeat. “We are all to be blamed for the defeat, from former President John Mahama to the grassroot members. To be frank everybody is involved in the defeat of the NDC,” he said.
Some leading members of the party have urged former President Mahama to drop names of functional executive committee members whom he gave money to for the 2016 campaign but ended up in their private pockets.
The issue fueled suspicions within the party after several accusations that some executives of the party have embezzled funds meant to run the campaign.
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