Politics of Monday, 2 February 2015
Source: Graphic Online
The Steering Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is investigating an audio tape making the rounds on various media platforms and purported to be the voice recording of the Northern Regional Chairman, Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu.
In view of the gravity of the allegations made in the said recording and the subsequent denial by Mr Bugri Naabu, the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Paul Afoko, has directed that the audio recording be forwarded for forensic examination, a statement signed by the party’s General Secretary, Mr Kwabena Agyepong, stated.
According to the statement, the Committee noted with deep concern the tape making the rounds and stated that “a thorough investigation into this matter is justifiable, in order to ascertain the identity of the voice on the tape and the veracity of its content.”
At its meeting held on January 27, 2015 at the party’s headquarters, the committee was also informed about a subsequent press statement issued by Mr Bugri Naabu, stating that the voice on the said recording was not his.
The statement, however, concluded that hopefully, the forensic examination would expose any mischief meant to undermine the unity of the party.
Meanwhile, the Bugri Naabu tape saga is creating a lot of brouhaha within the corridors of the NPP.
While some schools of thought are of the view that the issues raised on the tap merit serious investigation, others are of the opinion that such an exercise will be a waste of time.
Indeed, the First and Second Vice Chairmen of the NPP have expressed contrasting opinions on various media networks.
While the First Vice Chairman, Mr Freddie Blay, believes it would be a total waste of time to give attention to a leaked tape recording on which the party’s northern regional chairman was heard doubting the loyalty of some key national executive members, the Second Vice Chairman, Mr Sammy Crabbe, has given the assurance that the party would investigate and fish out the person whose voice is on the secret tape claiming that the party’s Chairman and General Secretary are working to prevent flag bearer Nana Akufo-Addo from becoming President.
“We shall get to the bottom of this because we are not going to let it be. I don’t want to be walking out there for the people in the party to think that I am a sell-out, I am not a sell-out. I want to find out who it is. The person must own up,” Mr Crabbe told Eyewitness News on Citi FM.
On the said tape, a voice purported to be that of Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, claimed the party’s National Chairman, Paul Afoko, General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong, and others had already received V8 vehicles from President John Mahama’s brother, Ibrahim.
The voice also claimed the two executive members were being protected by National Security personnel.
A former General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow, has also called for Mr Bugri Naabu’s suspension over the secret tape.
A Member of the NPP Council of Elders, Mr George Ayisi Boateng, has also called for investigations into the matter.
“The investigation, according to Mr Ayisi Boateng, is very important because people are fond of putting out false information. It is not the first time that we have heard of tapes. There are a lot of things that have gone on unchecked or unpunished.”
Mr Ayisi-Boateng said failure by the party to probe the allegations would embolden people who put out supposed secret tapes “to continue doing these kinds of things”.
According to multiple sources within the party, pressure is on the 2016 flag bearer of the party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to condemn the divisive comments in the leaked tape.
Indeed, a Tamale-based youth group, “Concerned Youth of NPP”, has set in motion moves to get Nana Akufo-Addo to speak on the damnable tape which is in wide circulation and is causing consternation within the NPP.
At a news conference in Tamale, spokesperson for the group, Elliasu Haruna, said he was not happy about Nana Akufo-Addo’s deafening silence on Daniel Bugri Naabu’s comments.
The call is also backed by a founder member of the NPP, Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe.
Meanwhile, Mr Bugri Naabu has stated that it had come to his attention that a recorded tape, initially broadcast by Radio Gold, 90.5 FM, is making the rounds in various media houses. This tape has also enjoyed wide coverage on social media across the country.
‘’Having listened to the tape several times in the presence of other people, I want to make it clear to the general public and members of the NPP that the statements attributed to me are not true, nor the alleged voice my own,’’ he stated.
In a statement, he said he “sees this as a calculated attempt to sow seeds of discord between him and the leadership of the party and to tarnish his hard-won reputation. Mr Bugri Naabu is, therefore, calling on the leadership and members of the party, the media and the general public to disregard the content of the tape. It is an attempt by his enemies and people who do not want to see an NPP victory in 2016 to divert attention from the real issues facing the country at this time’’.