I did not bribe election officer - MP

Mr Samuel Oppong, Member of Parliament for Agona West, on Tuesday denied having played a role in an alleged bribery scandal at Bobikuma in the Agona District of the Central Region that cost an election officer his job.

The member described the allegation as part of a "dirt smearing campaign" being orchestrated by his political opponents and threatened: "I have taken it seriously".

A Ghana News Agency story that appeared in the Ghanaian Times edition of Monday, October 30, had it that Mr. H.M. Nkrumah, election co-ordinator of Bobiban, had been sacked after receiving a carton of soap from Mr. Oppong as a gift intended to influence him.

The MP said he had no idea how Mr Nkrumah looked like neither had he at any time sent him any soap.

He said about three months ago, he visited the town as part of his campaign tour and met a group of teachers whom he sent a few cartons of soap after promising to deliver at a later date.

The member, who is a professional teacher, said he made the promise because he felt he needed to build closer ties with his colleagues.

He said that, if the said Mr. Nkrumah was among the teachers to whom he sent those cakes of soap, then he wished to assure his constituents that the gift was meant for his fellow teachers and not to influence any election officer.

Mr. Oppong said he had in the past taken many groups such as tailors and hairdressers on educational tours to places like Parliament to help them appreciate how these institutions work.

He advised other aspiring Members of Parliament in his constituency not to peddle lies about him but rather tell the electorate how capable they are to raise their standard of living.

Mr. Oppong said he had provided his area with social and economic amenities worth 7 billion cedis during the past four years.