K Agyapong: This Isn't The First Time A Waiver Letter Has Been Issued...I've Committed No Crime

General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, has explained his decision to issue waiver letters to some Parliamentary aspirants in the party’s on-going parliamentary primaries.

According to him, this is not the first time a General Secretary of the opposition party has used his discretion to give waiver letters to help party members with legitimate and reasonable issues.

Speaking on Okay Fm’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show on Thursday, Kwabena Agyapong expressed shock at the way the Greater Accra executives of the party on Tuesday rejected a waiver letter authored by him directing that three (3) parliamentary aspirants pay Gh¢15, 000 instead of the required Gh¢30, 000.

The Greater Accra Executives of NPP further argued that the practice is foreign to the party and its constitution.

But the NPP Chief Scribe stressed that it is a normal practice within the party and accused the party's Greater Accra Executives of being hypocrites.

This is not the first time a General Secretary in NPP has given waiver letter; waivers are given in many ways. Some of the candidates’ membership may not be up to 2 years but if we feel the person can help the party, we can issue a waiver for the person; and Dominic Nitiwul who is our Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, when he crossed-carpet was waived as then a member of PNC to contest a seat on the ticket of the NPP,” he explained.

What is my crime for issuing waiver letters to some candidates in areas where we don’t win elections and he has made part-payment and has signed an undertaken to complete it after the vetting? What is my crime to give waiver letter to help someone who suffered injury for the party?... and what is my crime to give waiver letter to help past MPs who want to contest again?” he quizzed.