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The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described as �a blatant misuse of incumbency and power by the NDC government to undermine press freedom, (and)thwart fair reporting�, a purported move by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), spearheaded by deputy Information Minister Baba Jamal, to use state funds to induce Journalists to embellish and distort stories to enhance the chances of the NDC ahead of the 2012 general elections. According to the NPP, the deliberate strategy to use state funds to bribe journalists is �terribly unfortunate� and �a blatant abuse of incumbency by the NDC�. At a press conference at the Party�s Headquarters, the party gave a list of 15 journalists, some with their account numbers attached, of persons said to be part of a national scheme to put journalists on a special payroll of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in order to cover the monthly stipends to be paid them for their defence of the Mills-Mahama NDC government, especially in the run up to the 2012 general elections. The party also produced as evidence, one of the said appointment letters dated 16th May 2011, in the name of Abdulai Issaka for internship at Metro TV, Upper East. The internship was to begin on 1st June 2011 to 1st June, 2013, with a monthly stipend of Ghs 160 without Social Security deductions It was signed by Abuga Pele, Acting National Coordinator. The list of beneficiaries is headed by Samuel Abaane, northern region correspondent of the Enquirer newspaper. The others are Gifty Amoshie of A1 Radio; Abotiyine Akayete (with account number 10743-5336/11); Dagba Felix Lambert of Ura Radio/Radio Ghana; Sophia Kumi of Ura Radio/Radio Ghana; and Foster Aggor of Style FM (with account number 10743-5334/11). The rest are Samuel Akapule of the Ghana News Agency (10743-5323/11); Osmand of Word FM; Joseph Osei of Joy FM (10743-5333/11); Dalulah Nsarebor of the Ghanaian Chronicle; Madam Fati of the Ghana News Agency; Abdul Hamid of the Daily Graphic (10743-5361/11); Alhaji of Ghanaian Times; Abraham Pime of Radio Ghana and Abdula Issaka of Metro TV (10743-5346/11) In an audio tape making the rounds in the media, a voice purported to be that of Deputy Information Minister Baba Jamal is heard wooing journalists with promises of employment and cash to help pursue the electoral agenda of the Mills-Mahama administration in the run up to the crunch 2012 general elections. The voice said to belong to Baba Jamal is heard saying that government had decided to use funds from the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to pay those journalists. Official appointment letters as well as bank account details would be furnished to enable the select journalist withdraw an unspecified monthly stipend for their �work.� On the tape, the voice said to belong to Baba Jamal promises the journalists a larger package if the NDC wins next year�s election. Addressing the press conference at the Party�s headquarters in Accra on Thursday August 4, the Communications Director of the NPP, Nana Akomea read transcripts of the said meeting to the press, insisting it was a true copy of the conversation. He described the deputy Information Minister as �increasingly cutting a figure of incredibility�, following Baba Jamal�s denial that the voice was his. Accompanied by General Secretary Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie also known as Sir John, Samuel Awuku, a deputy Communications Director, and John Kumah, a leading member of the NPP youth group Young Patriots, Nana Akomea said the NPP would be willing to pay for the services of a voice analyst to determine the veracity of the said voice on the tape if challenged. What made the alleged payments worse, the NPP said, was that they were taking place �at a time when beneficiaries of LEAP are not having regular payment, genuine NYEP beneficiaries have not been paid for months, and national infrastructure is in a sorry state.� Nana Akomea explained that the party was concerned that such an important arm of governance was being corrupted, and warned that if this was not checked, other important agencies of government such as the police and the Electoral Commission could be influenced. But the Deputy Minister has categorically denied to Citi News that he had ever promised journalists huge sums of money to tow a particular line ahead of the 2012 elections, and has threatened to institute court action in order to track the impersonators and bring them to book. Mr Abaane has also denied in an interview with Citi News that any such meeting had taken place. Officials of NYEP have also denied that any such directive had been given �from above�.