Attempts by a cross section of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) faithful to get one of their flag bearer hopefuls, Hon. Kofi Osei-Ameyaw disqualified from contesting the party’s upcoming primary for non-compliance of his filing fee has hit a snag.
The party, after inquiring into the claims made by MP for Asuogyaman, has cleared him of any wrongdoing and in the process, accepted that it owes the legislator an amount Ghc131,810, being monies he advanced to the elephant family for preparatory works ahead of the Tamale Conference.
The astute businessman cum politician, when filing his nomination forms attached a letter authorizing the party to deduct part of the money he loaned to the Danquah-Busia-Dombo family to offset the Ghc75,000 the party was demanding as filing fees.
But his critics, especially the failed Parliamentary candidate for Weija Constituency, Kofi 123, jumped to the fray, insisting that the Asuogyam legislator, who is also a lawyer by profession, be disqualified from the contest, since he failed to accompany his filing form with the required fee of Ghc75,000.
The party’s General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong, bemused by the actions of his fellow ‘kukrudites’, called him to order and in the process, wrote to the Annual Delegates Conference Fund Raising Committee, chaired by Hon. Hackman Owusu Agyemang, for redress.
Hon. Agyemang, in a reply letter titled: “Monies advanced by Hon. Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, MP” and dated July 23, 2014, a copy of which had been sighted by The Chronicle, acknowledged Ghc131,810 as money advanced by the MP to the committee for the Tamale Conference.
The letter, which was jointly signed by Chairman and the Treasurer of the Committee, Hon. Patricia Appiagyei, in part read: “We write to confirm that the total of the various sums advanced to the Fund Raising Committee by Hon. Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, amounted to One Hundred and Thirty One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ten Ghana Cedis (Ghc131,810)."
With this, the party is deemed to have accepted the filing fee of the Asuogyamang legislator, who is scheduled to appear before the party’s vetting committee this Friday, July 25, 2014, for questioning. The balance of Ghc56,810 – The Chronicle learnt, would be paid in installment as the party prepares to write officially to Hon. Osei-Ameyaw to crave his indulgence to accept their proposal.
Hon. Osei-Ameyaw, when contacted by The Chronicle, declined to comment on the issue, except to say that “I give thanks to God in everything He has done for me."
