Ayariga: My hard work resurrected a 'dead' PNC

The 2012 Presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention has dismissed allegations of embezzlement adding that he is not accountable to the party over monies dispensed during the 2012 electioneering period.

His comments come on the heels of allegations by the Treasurer of the PNC, David Apasara, that Hassan Ayariga has hijacked and hoarding party cars and money.

According to Mr Apasara, Mr Ayariga received many cars including Land Cruisers and pickups as well as different amounts of money as donation in the name of the party but hoarded all of it to himself.

Mr Apasara’s accusations against Mr Ayariga follow demands by a youth group in the party, Convention Forum, for the party’s leadership to account for Ghc1.6 million of campaign funds meant for the 2012 elections.

However, in an interview on Radio XYZ’s Strict Proof Tuesday, Hassan Ayariga conceded receiving some monies for his campaign just like his fellow presidential candidates but added that all expenses for his 2012 campaign were borne by him without a cedi from the party.

According to Mr Ayariga, he was compelled to close down all three of his restaurants because he had to channel funds from those personal businesses into his campaign.

He added that until he became the flagbearer of the PNC, the party was virtually dead and so could not have attracted any sponsorship from anybody or groups of people.

“The Chairman is the leader of the party so if there’s money missing, I think they are the right people to explain to us where the money came from, who gave the money and how much was the money and where it went to.

“As a flagbearer, I had the right to go round and campaign. I did my campaign solely. Not even the party could raise one cedi to help Ayariga in his campaign. ..I used my life, used the little monies that I got from friends and colleagues that is not for the PNC. If my brother calls me and says ‘Ayariga this is Ghc100,000, go and use it for your campaign, it is not meant for me to bring it to the leadership of the PNC and say look this is for you, go and do your campaign”. He added that if there was any money missing, the right people who were at the helm of affairs should rather be held accountable and not him.