Alfred Obeng Boateng, the Member of Parliament for Bibiani-Ahnwiaso-Bekwai in the Western North region, has defended remarks he made recently about campaign funding for the next NPP parliamentary primaries, which are scheduled for February 2024.
He declared in an audio clip that went viral that he would be willing to match any promises made by his political rivals to delegates in his district in terms of financial support.
Mr. Obeng Boateng declared that he had the financial resources in dollars to match or surpass any possible proposals from his rivals, and he was willing to provide as much as GHC20,000 to each of the more than 2000 delegates present.
Mr. Obeng Boateng defended his remarks by pointing out that the tape had been altered in certain sections.
He made it clear that he didn’t absolutely plan to spend twice as much as others would give, only more than they might.
Mr. Obeng Boateng told Citi News, “I don’t know who said double, [but] I said I was willing to pay more than they intend doing but not double.”
He further restated that there was no impropriety in maintaining dollar accounts and stressed that he had maintained his money in dollars. He made the argument that owning dollars is not the same as hoarding or engaging in illicit behavior.
“Well, I said that as somebody who plans ahead as somebody who knows what he is doing…I should be prepared by now…they are talking about bringing their foreign partners to transfer dollars, and I equally have dollars in Ghana here. The dollar is not a contraband item, the dollar is not cocaine, and the dollar is a currency that we spend in Ghana, various people have dollar accounts, cedi accounts and euro accounts.
“I have kept my money in dollars and I don’t see any news in this and I don’t see why this should be misconstrued if I have kept money in dollars it means that the dollars have been hoarded or packed in my bedroom.”
Mr. Obeng Boateng firmly asserted that his statements were intended as a deterrent against potential competition and not as an attempt to purchase votes. He believes that his comments did not warrant investigation by any regulatory agency such as the Special Prosecutor.
According to him, his remarks underscore his financial preparedness for the upcoming campaign and his commitment to securing the support of delegates in his constituency.
SOURCE: citinews
