'Kayayei' Assoc. Is Vulnerable . . . We Don't Have GH�5,000 To Support NPP Campaign

The National Association of Head Potters popularly known as 'kayayei' in the Ashanti Region, says it did not make any cash donation to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during its recent fund–raising event at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

According to the association’s Ashanti Regional Secretary Ibrahim Dauda, the group is not partisan to get involved in the fund-raising event of the opposition party; hence finds it mischievous for anybody to use its name for political gains.

The largest opposition NPP, held its first national fundraising programme a fortnight ago where an undisclosed amount of money was realized. It was attended by the party’s flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo and his running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Among the highlights of activities that caught the attention of the media and raised eyebrows among sections of the public was the announcement that some 'kayayei' in the Ashanti Region; the stronghold of the opposition group, contributed GHc5,000 to support the NPP’s campaign to unseat the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

A lady known Adiza Zongo Pioneer, who claims to be the National President of the National Association of Head Potters made the donation on behalf of the group.

Speaking on Okay Fm’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, the Ashanti Regional Secretary Ibrahim Dauda stated that the association could not have donated that huge amount of money as the group is currently facing some problems.

He noted that this claim of a donation by the Association to a political party has the tendency of negatively affecting the financial assistance the group gets from donor institutions and non-governmental organizations.

“We don’t have that kind of money that is being reported we donated to the NPP. It is well known that we 'kayayei' are vulnerable and poor. We are sometimes funded by NGO’s and other faith based organizations; and now our benefactors will hear that a whopping amount of GHC 5,000 has been donated to a political party. We are neutral…not affiliated to any political party. What signals are we sending to the public, will we continue to have such financial support after this false news out there,” he asked?

He reiterated that “we want the whole world to know that the information the NPP put out there is not true”.

He however emphasized that the said Adiza Zongo Pioneer who claimed to have donated the money on behalf the association to the NPP is not part of the group.

But on the same platform, Adiza Zongo Pioneer insisted that she was the President of the National Association of Head Potters and that the group willingly donated that amount to the NPP because the current government had taken them for a ride for far too long.

She claimed that Ibrahim Dauda has come up to discredit her because he was being motivated by some bigwigs in the ruling party to muddy the waters.