A flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has accused some of his fellow contestants for allegedly bribing journalists for hypes ahead of the polls.
He claimed some aspirants have inculcated influencing sessions within the media space with money to intentionally make them popular before the public.
The immediate past Minister of Food and Agriculture having gone through a successful mandatory vetting and been cleared to contest the NPP’s Super Delegate Conference has picked the number six slot on the balloting paper.
He is expected to compete with a former Trade and Industry Minister, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, former MP for Mampong constituency, Kofi Addae Nimo, former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko and former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong.
Other are the MP for Ketan, Joe Ghartey, former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Businessman Kwadwo Poku.
With these ten candidates, the presidential election committee of the NPP said the August 26th super delegates conference was made possible to cut down the list of the aspirants to five as stipulated in its constitution.
Building up for the election, pollsters, political analysts, social commentators and sections of the general public have tagged Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Kennedy Agyapong and Mahamudu Bawumia as the three frontrunners.
Speaking to Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah on the assertion, Dr. Owusu Afriyie, said he is not pushed by the development because some of the ‘acclaimed frontrunners’ do not merit the glorification.
According to him, he has learned with much information of huge sums of monies being paid to some unfazed media practitioners by “the presidential hopefuls” just to make them the most sought-after-candidates.
“It’s not a surprise to me at all, let’s wait for Saturday evening in the aftermath of the election to confirms who the frontrunners will be. Look, I can pay money for you [journalist] to say a lot of things about me but am not paying any money.
“Do you think what is going on in the media space of the tit and tat about these frontrunners you are talking about is free? Is not free. Well, what am saying is that am not paying any money because it is not national election,” Dr. Akoto said on the Angel Morning Show, Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
Asked why he seem unconcerned about his omission from the frontrunners list, the presidential hopeful said the poll is internal exercise, adding not entirely the general public will be partaking.
Dr. Afriyie Akoto recalled that it was similar circumstances that caused former General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu to lose his seat therefore, the fate of all aspirants including himself will be decided through voting only and not on popularity basis.
According to him, his campaign message is well delivered to delegates which he is much convinced would translate into votes for him to make the last five.
The NPP Election Committee has announced an ambitious goal of ending voting at its Super Delegates Conference at 1 p.m. instead of 5 P.M.
Voting for the exercise set for Saturday, August 26, 2023, is expected to commence at 9:00 am.
