The National Democratic Congress [NDC], says comments made by the Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, suggesting that the opposition party will free jailed former GYEEDA boss, Abuga Pele, if the party wins power in the 2020 polls, “do not reflect in any remotest sense the position of the party regarding the fight against corruption in the country."
The NDC, in a statement signed by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, noted that “in matters like this, the interest of the state cannot be subjected to individual or partisan interest", irrespective of the "emotional trauma the family, friends and sympathizers" of the incarcerated former MP are going through.
The opposition party, however, called on the current administration, 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"
It came shortly after the NDC’s Founder, Jerry John Rawlings, condemned the comments by the NDC MP the party.
According to Mr. Rawlings, such ideas and actions will only ensure the NDC remains in opposition for a “long, long time.”
Abuga Pele, a former NDC MP for Chiana Paga, was sentenced alongside the Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill International Group, Philip Assibit, to a combined jail-term of 18 years on various counts, including willfully causing financial loss to the state.
Pele was handed a four and six-year sentence which will run concurrently whilst Assibit got concurrent sentences of 12 and four years on different counts.
The court also ordered the state to recover all assets and money belonging to the state from the convicts.
Philip Assibit has since served notice will be appealing his 16-year jail term alongside an application for bail.
NDC started prosecuting Pele
But the NDC has maintained that its government initiated the court action in 2014 that eventually led to the conviction of Abuga Pele and Philip Assibit.
“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.
Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, during the NDC’s Eastern Regional unity walk over the weekend, told Citi News that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was working hard to win the general elections in 2020, and will after that release the former NDC MP, Abuga Pele.
“It is unfortunate but I can only say that this will not dampen the spirit of the NDC. Between 2001 and 2004, they sentenced Tsatsu Tsikata, Dan Abodakpi, Ibrahim Adam and Kwame Peprah. It did not stop us from winning elections in 2008. We are going to win the elections and bring Abuga Pele out,” he said.
Find below the full statement
MP’s SENTIMENT DOES NOT REFLECT NDC’s POSITION
A statement purported to have been made by National Democratic Congress, NDC Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo Constituency Honourable Nii Lantey Vanderpuye in an interview with a local radio station has widely been circulated in both print and electronic media.
In the said statement, an unfortunate impression has been created by the Honourable Member that the NDC will release Honourable Abuga Pele, the convicted former Member of Parliament for Chiana Paga from prison, if the party succeeded in capturing power in 2020.
It is recalled that Honourable Abuga Pele was sentenced to six years in prison for causing financial loss to the state.
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.
We can understand the emotional trauma the family, friends and sympathizers of our former MP are going through at this critical moment. However, 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.
We rather urge the current Nana 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.
Signed
Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
General Secretary, NDC
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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GHANAIANS ARE WILD AWAKE NOW AFTER BEING DECIEVED BY MR. JUNIOR JESUS AND HIS COHORTS. WHAT CAN NANA ADDO EMULATE FROM MAHAMA? CREATE LOOT AND SHARE? NO, NDC THE DAY OF RECKONING IS AT HAND.IT MIGHT NOT BE AT THE HANDS OF MARTIN AMIDU BUT THE MASSES.ONLY TIME ALONE WILL TELL.
JGEE COMMENT WAS NOT MEANT FOR THIS TOPIC SORRY.
OH! GHANA. YES THIS GUY TOILED FOR THE PARTY.SO WAS HE TOILLING ALL FOR THE SAKE OF CONTRACT? AFRICAN POLITICIANS ITS ONLY ABOUT THEM AND NO ONE ELSE. TIME WILL TYELL.
Nii Lantey Vanderpuye spoke the mind of the party except that it was not intended for the public. shame unto the NDC.
Massa; Nii Lante is a CROOK and ***barred word*** minded idiotic full whgo have always fulled his people the GA mashie clan because most are uneducated and do not THINK for themselves besides who does this ***barred word*** minded politician Asiedu Nketia attempting to full ; Ghanaians are wiser today ; the issue of release of these two convicts have been discussed within the NDC and the decuision is to release these northner criminals if by the unfiertunate chance that this ***barred word*** minded NDC party comes to power again in 2020 ; MAY GOD FORBID !!!!!!; the evidence is there that the NDC will realeae these criminals and other subsequest convicted criminals who will appear before the SP in future because as far as the NDC is concerned one of their party ethos is to still from the state to make themselves rich and leave the rest of their loot to their children and grand children who will then come and lead the NDC whilst refusing the poor free education ; the result being that the poor will be poor all the time ; this an ethos from their founder JJ Rawlings who hated educated people and people who can manage and create wealth for Ghana ; the trouble is that although they disire to steal the NDC cannot manage and create wealth ; their plan is continous stilling and ***barred word*** and uinabated corruption ; the sad fact is that whilst ewes/northners sleep in straw and mud houses and drink river water with cows and goats and their young ladies are made 'Kaya yei ' in the cities of Accra ; Kumasi and Tidi ; DON"T BE FULLED BY ASIEDU NKETIA BECAUSE THETY KNOW GHANAIANS ARE WEAK AND STOOOOOOPID !!!!!AND DO NOT THINKL FOR THEIR FUTURE : THEY PREFER TO EAT TODAY AND FORGET THE FUTURE !!!!!!!
Aseidu Nkatia say what? Do they forget the Mutie 3 which they released them last two years ago. You cant foll us for second time
Is there any good in Mahama for Nana to emulate? Do you want Nana to also release his paid journalist from prison or what. Pleeeeeeease!!!! spare us. Let Nana concentrate and clean the huge mess created by your so called role model. (Mahama)
Nii Lantey has always been very reckless with his statements.In fact during the last election campaign some of his comments and statements actually placed the NDC in bad light and consequently lead to its defeat.This time the party should not allow such thoughtless talk from loud mouth individuals to derail its chances. Hon,please answer this question:was the trial and conviction started by the NDC a political one or purely a corruption case?
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE MIND OF NII LANTEY BEFORE MAKING SUCH AN UNCALLED FOR COMMENT. PEOPLE MUST ***barred word*** IF THEY HAVE NOTHING TO SAY, WHAT NII DID WAS VERY BAD. IS HE SAYING PREZ. MAHAMA WAS WRONG IN SENDING ABUGA TO COURT? SOME PEOPLE ARE SPOILING THE PARTY AND NII LANTEY AND ABUGA ARE ALL SUPPORTERS OF JUNE 4.
If you’re so great, why are you sitting in Ghana with a Ghana number instead of contacting people from abroad where you want to send people to? I bet you e never even been abroad yourself!