'I used to buy rice for NDC MPs, now they have turned their backs on me' – Okyere Baafi

The Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, Michael Okyere Baafi, has alleged that some Members of Parliament in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), whom he supported while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in government, no longer respond to his calls.

Speaking in an interview on Wontumi TV on 14 January 2026, Okyere Baafi said he personally supported some NDC MPs during their time in opposition but feels abandoned now that they have returned to power.

According to him, he used to purchase bags of rice and transport them by car to support some of these MPs in their constituencies. However, he said that now that the NDC is in government and he expects occasional support, “they do not even pick my calls.”

He further stated that although these MPs interact cordially with him in Parliament, their conduct outside the chamber tells a different story.

“You see, we are all in Parliament and we face the same issues. Sometimes you think that if you have something today, you should help others so that tomorrow, when you are also in need, they can help you, but after they returned to power, they don’t mind anybody,” he said.

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Okyere Baafi revealed that he once reminded a senior NDC frontbencher of the support he offered in the past.

“I told one of their frontbench members that I used to pack rice and send it to his hometown. All three frontbench members of the NDC are my friends and whenever I sent the rice, I shared it among all of them,” he said.

“But today, now that they are in power, when you call them, they don’t mind you. Sometimes it’s not even about money; they just don’t mind you. Yet when they see you in Parliament, they pretend everything is fine.”

He cautioned that being in power does not diminish the relevance of those in opposition and urged his colleagues to be mindful of their actions.

Okyere Baafi added that his experience has been an eye-opener and said he would be more circumspect in his future engagements.

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