Mahama bribing Chiefs with V8s for endorsements - NPP

The opposition New Patriotic Party has alleged that Chiefs endorsing President John Mahama’s second term bid have been bribed.

According to the NPP, the President has bribed the Chieftaincy institution with V8 vehicles, cash and Board positions in other to win their support.

Addressing the media on Thursday in Koforidua, the Eastern regional Youth Organizer of the NPP, Jerry Osei Poku stated that President Mahama has corrupted the Chieftaincy institution compelling some of the Chiefs to be left with no choice than to endorse and declare their support for him.

"Our President has made it a policy to ostensibly bribe our chiefs and take our Chieftaincy Institution for granted. This so called endorsement by the Chiefs especially those in the Eastern region are stage managed.

“Why are we saying so, there are a number of Chiefs in this region that the President has appointed onto boards, there some of the Chiefs that have received largesse from the President, some have received V8 vehicles that they cannot even fuel, some have taken pick-Ups, Land Cruisers among others, so if a chief in this category makes a statement supporting the President or praising the President, first and foremost what clicks your mind is that it is out of inducement that that chief is making such claims."

He said, the Mahama-led NDC government has failed to honour its promises to the Eastern region, citing the regional Hospital, a public University, a Teacher Training College, Sports Stadium, among others which were promised but yet remains unfulfilled.

When asked if some Chiefs endorsing Akufo Addo have also been bribed, Mr. Opoku explained that, "the endorsement for Akufo Addo are geniune endorsements", adding "have you ever heard that Nana Addo has given a Chief a bicycle or motorbike, no, Nana Addo has not given any Chief a car, Nana Addo has not given any Chief an appointment to induce him they come on their own evolution and make genuine commitments to him because they know, they have seen and have read about his vision, they know the level of his tolerance and great policies he has for the Country."