Former Joy FM morning show host Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has revealed that he was a card-bearing member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2012, when he moderated that year’s presidential debate for the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).
Mr Oppong Nkrumah, however, said he did not let that influence his professionalism.
He moderated the debate together with Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, who was later appointed by then President John Dramani Mahama as the Minister of Education.
Her appointment stirred controversy as critics said that confirmed their suspicion that the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast favoured Mr Mahama during the debate.
After the second of the two debates, then opposition leader Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo walked straight to Mr Oppong Nkrumah to register his displeasure at not being given a right of rebuttal during the debate.
This was also heavily condemned by followers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
The current Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi Constituency said while posing the questions to the four presidential aspirants including Hassan Ayariga and Dr Abu Sakara Forster, he was a member of the NPP.
The question was posed to him by Odododiodio MP Nii Lantey Vanderpuye on Friday during the Deputy Information Minister’s vetting.
He is being vetted to take up the substantive position of Minister of Information after his boss, Dr Mustapha Hamid, was moved to the Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah indicated that he was a registered member of the NPP even while at Joy FM.
But he said his employers required not only him but all staff to exhibit a high sense of professionalism and “I tried very hard to demonstrate that in my line of work”.
He said most current journalists may find themselves in the same shoes but “the test is how you are able to do your work professionally so that at the end of the day the average listener [will not find you partisan]”.
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana