National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) John Boadu says the initiative by Acting National Chairman Freddie Blay to resource the constituencies with a bus each is “simple but it is becoming difficult for people to understand”.
According to him, it was a promise made to the 275 constituencies and Mr Blay should rather be congratulated for fulfilling his promise.
Speaking to 3FM’s Winston Amoah on Friday ahead of the 2018 National Annual Delegates’ Conference of the NPP, Mr Boadu, who is the Acting General Secretary, said he was deeply involved in the move.
He said it is an individual initiative, nonetheless.
“[But] initiated by party people,” he added.
The provision of the 275 buses at a total cost $11.4 million has generated controversy with some calling it abuse of incumbency.
Already, Mr Blay has been reported to have made a down payment of $3 million and taken delivery of the first 100 buses.
Nonetheless, a call has been made for a probe into the whole deal, which opponents claim is vote-buying on the part of the former Convention People’s Party (CPP) member.
Reports say the Office of the Special Prosecutor has begun investigations into the purchase.
But Mr Boadu said he was even part of signatories for the deal.
‘419’
He said most people tagged the promise, then, as ‘419’.
‘419’ means a ruse.
The Acting General Secretary observed that those who are implicating Mr Blay, who is aspiring to be a substantive National Chairman, are doing so because they lack integrity.
“I think we don’t break our bones and back for it at all.”
On the upcoming congress, he said adequate plans have been made to have a smooth programme.
He said the party is working on ensuring smooth flow of the votes so that the exercise does not go into the following day.
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana