Hon. Stephen Amoah, Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso and a member of Kennedy Ohene Agyapong’s presidential campaign team, has rejected claims that he sought appointment as Finance Minister, insisting his comments on the matter have been misrepresented.
Speaking during a tense televised exchange with broadcaster Serwaa Amihere, Mr. Amoah clarified that he never stated he wanted to be Finance Minister, but rather said he had been considered for the position of Minister of State in charge of Finance under the previous administration. He maintained that the proposed appointment did not materialise after objections were raised in favour of another candidate.
“I never said I wanted to be Finance Minister,” Mr. Amoah said. “I said the President had informed a very dignified person that I was going to be made Minister of State in charge of Finance, and someone objected, preferring his own person.”
Pressed to identify the individual who objected, Mr. Amoah declined, saying he had been advised to remain silent and was unwilling to name anyone publicly. He also denied suggestions that ethnicity or tribal considerations played any role in the matter, describing such interpretations as false and offensive.
“I will never say anything tribal. God forbid,” he said, stressing that preference for “one’s own person” should not be conflated with tribal bias.
Mr. Amoah expressed frustration over what he described as sustained personal attacks following earlier public commentary, saying his remarks had been misconstrued and weaponised against him. He cited insults directed at him and others within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), warning that such conduct undermines party unity.
The MP further said he regretted the platform and context in which the issue was initially raised, noting that even truthful statements could be damaging if poorly timed or framed. However, he insisted the controversy was immaterial to the broader political task ahead.
“What Ghana needs is not propaganda,” Mr. Amoah said. “What Ghana needs is leadership that will bring change.”
The exchange ended abruptly as the host called for a commercial break, with the MP declining to revisit the issue further. The incident has since sparked renewed debate within NPP circles over internal communication, media engagement and discipline as the party prepares for its presidential primaries.