It is gathered that some defeated aspirants in the just-ended primaries of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) are retrieving back cash and bicycle donations made to delegates ahead of last Saturday’s primaries.
While Eric Amankwa Blay is busily taken back his donation of 250 bicycles made to delegates in the Assin North Constituency in the Central Region, Ben Arthur is ambushing delegates in the Mampong Constituency in the Ashanti Region for his money.
According to delegates accounts from Asante Mampong, several of them have been asked to refund money given them to vote in favor of Ben Arthur.
The exercise which is been championed by supporters of Ben Arthur has taken place in Mprim, Yonso, Apaah, Kyekyewere, Akyeremade, Adweeho, among other electoral areas in the constituency.
Blay, apart from given away the bicycles to the delegates, also campaigned vigorously across the length and breadth of the constituency.
That, however, did not reflect in the outcome of the primaries in his area.
Running against the incumbent Member of Parliament, Abena Duruwa Mensah, Mr. Blay gained 44 votes, while his opponent secured 389 to seal a resounding victory.
Explaining the rationale for taking back the donated bicycles from the delegates after his defeat, a disappointed Amankwa Blay told Adom Online; “I’m not taking back the money but as for the bicycles, I need them back.”
Aside from the GH¢300-unit cost of the bicycles, Blay claims he shared a cash amount of GH¢200 and GH¢500 to each delegate and constituency executive to endorse his candidature but they failed to do so.
He added that failure to endorse his candidature means the delegates did not appreciate the bicycles.
Some delegates and polling station executives reacting to the move said they were disappointed the donated bicycles were taken back by Blay and his supporters.
NPP secretary of Assin North Constituency, Emmanuel Asamoah said the leadership of the party will soon meet defeated Blay to find an amicable solution.
In a related story, the campaign team of the defeated incumbent Member of Parliament for Atwima Kwanwoma Constituency Hon Dr. Appiah Kubi is busily tracking delegates for refund.
The operation is led by one Mercy Mensah, an unidentified Police Officer, and two heavily built men.
Narrating his ordeal, Ebenezer Kusi Mpaini, a polling station organizer at Atwima Akyeremade said; he was taken a nap when the campaign team of Dr. Appiak Kubi was ushered in with a Police Officer stationed at Akyeremade two macho men.
‘I quickly inquired about their mission, and they told me Dr. Appiah Kubi sent them to collect back the GHS3,0000 I took from them before the primaries’.
‘I told them point-blank that the money is not with me in the house and that it has been deposited at the Bank.”. he said.
According to Ebenezer Mpiani, the team has threatened to curse him and seize his motorbike if he fails to return the money.
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