<<Print>>The New Patriotic Party (NPP), has yet again been hit by another controversy with revelation that, it’s presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, was dolled a whopping 100,000 Pounds Sterling for his recent 3-week trip to the United Kingdom (UK), in July.
The money was reportedly paid from an Ecobank account, unknown to the National Chairman, Paul Afoko, and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong. Already there are claims that the NPP might have problems with its audited accounts to the Electoral Commission (EC), because the administration of these bank accounts and assets are not with Messrs Afoko and Agyapong.
In the case of the 100,000 Pounds Sterling , the colossal amount allegedly given to the twice defeated presidential candidate, according to NPP insiders, came to light when the NPP National Treasurer, Emmanuel Abankwa-Yeboah, met the NPP Finance Committee at the party’s Asylum Down headquarters in Accra, last week Monday.
The committee is chaired by Kwadwo Mpianim, ex-Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs under President John Kufuor. Also present in that meeting was ex-Tema Oil Refinery boss, Dr. K. K. Sarpong, who until recently was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club. He was said to be angry at the revelations.
Although details of the meeting are sketchy, National Chairman, Paul Afoko, and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, were said to be unaware of the hefty amount given to the 2016 NPP flagbearer to embark upon the trip with his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, and one Saratu Atta, his Executive Assistance.
The Herald was informed that the NPP National Treasurer made the jaw-dropping revelation when he was called to give an accounts of GH¢7 million cash which landed into party’s coffers as proceeds from the recent Parliamentary primaries, which saw many NPP bigwigs including, Isaac Osei, Dr. Richard Winfred Anane, Dr. Afriyie Owusu Akoto among others ousted from Parliament.
Mr. Emmanuel Abankwa-Yeboah, is said to have given a breakdown of how the GH¢7 million cash was expended, and disclosed that, the rest of the money was sitting in an ECOBANK account. He subsequently submitted a banker’s draft to the committee.
Impeccable sources within the NPP revealed that, Mr. Abankwa-Yeboah, gave himself and the First Vice Chairman, Freddie Blay as signatories to the ECOBANK created in the name of the NPP, and it was from that account that Nana Addo, got the 100,000 Pounds Sterling for his UK trip.
Dr. KK Sarpong, who sat in the meeting according to insiders, got furious at the disclosure that Nana Addo was given 100,000 Pounds Sterling for his private visit to the UK.
Events regarding the creation of the NPP account, could be in total contravention of the 1992 Constitution with respect to the law establishing political parties and how they are managed especially, their financing. The law insists on a proper management of funds and submission of an audited account to the Electoral Commission (EC) by a party.
Article 55, clause 14 of the 1992 Constitution, recognizing political parties across the country, demands that the parties shall by law (a) declare to the public their revenues and assets and the sources of those revenues and assets; and (b) to publish to the public annually the audited accounts.
But it is clear Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong, would not append their signatures to an audit report, since they have no hand in how moneys coming into the party’s coffers are spent, because most of the secret bank accounts are run by Abankwa Yeboah and Freddy Blay, without the knowledge of the national chairman and general secretary.
More to come!