NDC disowns Nii Lante’s ‘free Abuga Pele’ comment

The National Democratic Congress, NDC, has distanced itself from claims by the Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Nii Lante Vanderpuye that the party would win the 2020 general elections and free Abuga Pele, the jailed former coordinator of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA).

A statement issued by the party, signed by NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah says the MP’s comment which creates the unfortunate impression that the party would free the jailed former MP, does not represent the party’s position.

“The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NDC wishes to place on record that the sentiment expressed by the Honourable Member on the above cited statement do not reflect in any remotest sense the position of the party regarding the fight against corruption in the country on the matter involving the conviction of Honourable Abuga Pele in particular.

“We wish to remind Ghanaians that the investigation and prosecution of Honourable Abuga Pele was initiated by the NDC as part of our strategy to rid the country of corruption, and this strategy involves measures to prevent corruption and how to deal with corruption when it has already occurred. They include exposure, investigation, prosecution and punishment of corruption.

“It will therefore be absurd that after a successful conviction has been achieved in this particular case, the initiator will turn around to free any person who has been convicted as a result,” the statement said.

The statement said while the NDC leadership “can understand the emotional trauma the family, friends and sympathizers” of Abuga Pele are going through “at this critical moment,” “it is the belief of the leadership of NDC that in matters like this, the interest of the state cannot be subjected to individual or partisan interest.”

The NDC leadership said it rather urges the President Akufo-Addo led government to emulate this shining example of the Mahama administration and muster enough courage to bring members of his government who have been accused of corrupt practices to justice instead of praising them and misleading Ghanaians that all his ministers and appointees are clean.