The United Progressive Party (UPP) has dismissed its flagbearer, Akwasi Addae 'Odike' for his decision to endorse the presidential bid of the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo.
While the UPP flagbearer about two weeks ago declared his support for Mr Akufo-Addo saying President John Mahama cannot deliver to the satisfaction of Ghanaians even if he is given 100 years to rule, the party at a press conference in Kumasi on Monday opted to support President John Mahama instead and sacked Mr Addae for his unilateral decision.
Speaking on the development on Accra100.5FM on Tuesday morning , Ashanti Regional organiser of the party, Stephen Kweku Saahene, stated revealed that their flagbearer took a GHC 500,000 before his unilateral endorsement of Mr Akufo-Addo's candidacy.
Mr Saahene explained that the amount was a “contract†from Mr Akufo-Addo to Mr Odike to “destroy†President Mahama by making false accusations against him, including one that he was importing foreigners to rig the polls.
According to him, he was with Mr Addae when the NPP’s National Youth Organiser, Sammi Awuku called to arrange a meeting in order to hand over cash which was supposedly from Mr Akufo-Addo. He said the three of them subsequently drove to the Holiday Inn Hotel in Accra, where the transaction was completed and Mr Awuku took his cut while he (Saahene) was given GHS6000 out of the amount.
The meeting happened at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Accra, where the transaction was completed and Mr Awuku took his cut while he (Saahene) was given GHS6000 out of the amount.Â
The GHC 500,000 was in a big Omo box which he kept at Holiday Inn and some got missing, so he informed security of the missing cash,†he stated, adding his statements could be checked at the from the hotel.Â