Victor Smith, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Abuakwa North in 2016, has said some executives of the party in the constituency have hired other members of the party to tarnish his reputation.
According to him, those disgruntled executives had wanted to divert cash and other resources meant for campaign activities in last year’s polls as they did in the 2012 elections, however, he prevented them from embarking on the act, hence the attempt to tarnish his hard-earned reputation.
His comments follow claims by a leading member of the NDC in the constituency, Alhaji Dan Baba, that Mr Smith diverted cash meant for the NDC’s campaign into his building project.
Speaking in an interview with Accra News’ Nana Agyen Barima on Wednesday March 22, Alhaji Baba said: “Victor Smith never worked to ensure victory for the NDC.
“I am telling you on authority that the about 1000 pieces of clothes that came for us to share, he and the people around him shared 70 pieces among themselves. Again the cutlasses, sewing machines, hair dryers, and Wellington boots that were sent to the constituency were never accounted for.
“I believe that if you need a victory in the election, your wife wouldn’t speak against the electorate, especially members of the party, but in this case whenever party members visited Victor at home, his wife would tell them to go and find some work to do to feed themselves. How can you say this to the people your husband wants them to vote for him?
“At this point we want the entire world to know that Victor Smith failed to work in the constituency to ensure victory for the NDC. Before becoming the parliamentary candidate we knew the house that he had started putting up several years ago. Within a few months of becoming the candidate, he completed the house.”
Asked if he was suggesting Victor Smith used party cash to complete his building, Alhaji Baba responded: “Yes, because we all know he could not complete the house but was able to do so immediately after becoming the parliamentary candidate. We are calling on him to come out and account to us.”
However, speaking in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Thursday March 23, Mr Smith said: “Some disgruntled senior members of the party in the constituency are pushing other members to tarnish my image but they will not succeed in that respect.
“The current crop of executives is the same group that was there in the 2012 elections. They resolved not to waste their energies and resources as well as monies given to them to campaign because the constituency is the stronghold of the NPP.
“They pocketed these items meant for the 2012 elections and so I also decided that with the 2012 experience, I will supervise and disburse every resource and money to prevent the squandering of the money and that is their main issue.
“They did not get the chances to share the money and resources among themselves in 2016 as they did in 2012 and that is the issue they have with me. Their claims are all lies, I don’t owe them any explanation. If the regional executives want to hear from me, I will write to them, not the constituency executives.”
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