NDC's $5000 per diem claim bogus – NPP

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the opposition National Democratic Congress’ claims that President Nana Akufo-Addo and his aides are blowing state funds on travel per diems.

“Is it $5000 or $4000 as being rumoured?” “How much do his aides also take? Is it $2000 or $1000 as being rumoured?” NDC National Chairman Kofi Portuphy, who addressed a press conference at the party headquarters in Accra on Thursday, July 20, asked.

In a response to that question, Communications Director of the NPP, Yaw Adomako Baafi told Valentina Ofori Afriyie on Class FM’s 505 news programme that: “It is quite funny and embarrassing that a person of Kofi Portuphy’s stature could stoop so low to this level of irresponsible, groundless allegation”.

Mr Baafi argued that: “They (NDC) were in power for eight years, if these people would be honest to tell us even for one year their per diem, I think it will settle everything”.

For him, government is not mandated by law to disclose such allowances to the public, adding presidents over the years have not disclosed such information.

He was of the view that: “If these people [NDC] can tell us that there is a constitutional provision that demands that then it means the NPP is at fault”, adding that: “If there is precedence guiding that whenever a president travels he should come and declare it, so be it”.