A heated exchange unfolded on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on Friday when Nhyiaeso Member of Parliament (MP) Stephen Amoah (Stika) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) communicator Alfred Thompson sparred over claims the MP made concerning internal party appointments.
The on-air disagreement began after Thompson questioned Amoah over a previous statement suggesting that he was overlooked for a ministerial role at the Ministry of Finance because preference had been given to another candidate related to a senior party figure. Thompson implied that the comment carried tribal undertones, urging Amoah to publicly retract and apologise.
“You didn’t state it well, and you have to just apologise and retract,” Thompson said. “Among the five people going for a contest, one person is of northern descent. All you are saying is that someone wanted his brother or tribesman appointed. You are my brother and my friend, but when something is said wrongly, you should come out to correct it.”
A visibly displeased Amoah rejected the accusation, insisting his comments were misrepresented. “I never said tribesman. You are using tribe. I never said that,” he said, stressing that his remarks had been “twisted” by others to smear his reputation.
The Nhyiaeso MP maintained that those circulating the “tribal” narrative were doing so maliciously. “You people decided to deploy your own fake story and threw it into the public domain, tarnishing my reputation,” he said. “Then you come back and tell me I should go and apologise. Apologise for what?”
The exchange grew tense as both men continued to dispute the context of Amoah’s earlier statement. The host, Moro Awudu, repeatedly intervened to restore order as the two politicians interrupted each other.
Amoah also challenged Thompson to be fair in his criticism, alleging that certain individuals within the NPP had made ethnically charged comments against presidential aspirant Kennedy Agyapong without condemnation from Thompson’s camp. “Before God, have those openly using tribal statements against Kennedy Agyapong been criticised?” Amoah asked.
Thompson, however, maintained that his concern was about political accountability, not factional allegiance. “You are a good politician, but you should know this,” he said. “If you’ve erred, just say, ‘I didn’t mean it that way, I’m sorry, I retract.’ That’s all we are asking.”
The exchange later extended into a debate over electoral performance in the MP’s Nhyiaeso constituency, with Awudu noting that another candidate, referred to as “Dr.,” had polled more votes than Amoah. The argument escalated briefly before Awudu ended the segment, calling for calm.
The discussion highlighted growing tensions within the ruling party over internal narratives and perceived divisions as it prepares for its flagbearer race.
Despite repeated attempts by the host to de-escalate the argument, the discussion ended abruptly, leaving unresolved questions about party discipline, public accountability and the boundaries of internal debate aired on national television.