Friday, 29 March

It's false | I didn’t impose any company on FEC – Aseidu Nketia

Politics
NDC's General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia

The General Secretary of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has refuted claims by the National Vice Chairman that he single-handedly picked and dictated to Functional Executive Committee (FEC) on the selected company for the party's electronic payment platform.

Mr Nketia described the claims as "false and should be completely disregarded."

Responding to the allegations in a statement issued and signed by his campaign Spokesperson, Edem Agbana, Tuesday, 22 November 2022, Mr Nketia said: "While we have refused to comment on the consistent attacks and lies in the past, we have noted the daily lies and the recent one by a National Vice Chairman Said Sinare, claiming among others that the General Secretary, single handedly picked a company and forced it on the Party to provide an electronic payment platform."

The statement explained that: "Following a decision by the party to set up an electronic payment platform, Deputy General Secretary Barbara Asamoah was tasked to invite proposals from interested companies, and she was charged to also find out from colleague FEC members if they know any firms with the required Fintech experience to submit their bids. 

"Madam Asamoah is the one who received and submitted a shortlist of the bids she received to a committee, which was put together to handle Procurements, and chaired by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia."

It indicated that: "The Consultant subsequently recommended that the shortlisted companies should submit samples of their proposed work and make presentations to the Committee. 

"The Committee after reviewing the reports made its recommen General Secretary dations and submitted to the General Secretary. It must be pointed out that the General Secretary was not present for these review meetings with the shortlisted companies."

According to the NDC General Secretary's team, "it was after the report was presented to the General Secretary that he called for a due diligence to be conducted on the companies. 

"It was found after the due diligence that one of the shortlisted entities was owned by an active senior official of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). How on earth could the NDC have allowed an NPP official to oversee the collection of NDC funds? No way!"

It noted that: "The other entity is owned by a member of the NDC and who has a security background."

It emphasised that, "at all times, it was Barbara Asamoah who received the bids, and submitted the shortlisted entities to the Party’s committee for consideration. 

"Therefore, the claims by the National Vice Chairman, in the presence of the National Chairman that Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia single handedly picked and dictated to FEC on the selected company are false and should be completely disregarded.".

Regarding claims by a member of the Ofosu Ampofo campaign team, Oti Bless of Nkwanta, that as owners of the company, Mr Nketia and his son, as owners of the payment platform, pay themselves 38 per cent, the statement revealed that "neither the General Secretary nor his son has any interest or shareholding in the company selected and offered the contract to provide the platform."

It added: "We can campaign for our preferred candidates without resorting to outright falsehoods and character assassination, which are attributes that are unbecoming of persons seeking to lead the NDC."

Read full statement below:

Neither Asiedu Nketiah nor son has an interest in NDC’s electronic payment platform provider

The Johnson Asiedu Nketiah Campaign has taken note of yet another series of lies and attacks on his character and person by National Chairman of the NDC and his campaign team. 

While we have refused to comment on the consistent attacks and lies in the past, we have noted the daily lies and the recent one by a National Vice Chairman Said Sinare, claiming among others that the General Secretary, single handedly picked a company and forced it on the Party to provide an electronic payment platform. 

We wish to advice that in the supreme interest of our party, all aspirants stick to a campaign of facts and truths, devoid of hatred. 

I am directed by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah to respond to the lies of Said Sinare and the National Chairman as follows: 

1. Following a decision by the party to set up an electronic payment platform, Deputy General Secretary Barbara Asamoah was tasked to invite proposals from interested companies, and she was charged to also find out for colleague FEC members if they know any firms with the required Fintech experience to submit their bids. 

2. Madam Asamoah is the one who received and submitted a shortlist of the bids she received to a committee, which was put together to handle Procurements, and chaired by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia. 

3. Membership of the Committee included: Peter Boamah Otokunor- Deputy General Secretary; Barbara Asamoah- Deputy General Secretary; Joshua Akamba- National Organiser; Vida Addae- Deputy National Treasurer; Attah Issah- Accountant and Emmanuel Zumakpeh- Director of Administration.  

4. At the meetings of the Committee, Dr. George Atta Boateng was invited as a consultant to assist with selecting the successful bid for the project. 

5. After the review meeting, Madam Barbara Asamoah was the one asked to meet separately with Dr. Atta Boateng to further review and report to the Committee. 

6. The Consultant subsequently recommended that the shortlisted companies should submit samples of their proposed work and make presentations to the Committee. 

7. The Committee after reviewing the reports made its recommendations and submitted to the General Secretary. It must be pointed out that the General Secretary was not present for these review meetings with the shortlisted companies. 

8. It was after the report was presented to the General Secretary that he called for a due diligence to be conducted on the companies. 

9. It was found after the due diligence that one of the shortlisted entities was owned by an active senior official of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). How on earth could the NDC have allowed an NPP official to oversee the collection of NDC funds? No way! 

10. The other entity is owned by a member of the NDC and who has a security background. 

11. The General Secretary therefore submitted the (Procurement) Committee’s final recommendation to the Functional Executive Committee (FEC). 

12. After FEC’s approval, the Committee met with the Party’s Finance Committee chaired by Mr. Kwame Peprah, who was in charge and negotiated the charges with the selected entity. The Consultant, Dr. Atta Boateng, was also in this meeting to bring his expert knowledge to the proceedings. Also present at this meeting were Barbara Asamoah, Peter Otokunor, Accountant and General Secretary. 

13. The agreed charges with the selected entity and negotiated by the Finance committee chaired by Mr. Peprah was 18%, and not 20%. 

14. Following the Finance Committee’s negotiations, the draft agreement was submitted to the Party’s Legal Committee for review before signing in July 2022. 

15. We want to emphasise that, at all times, it was Barbara Asamoah who received the bids, and submitted the shortlisted entities submitted to the Party’s committee for consideration. 

16. Therefore, the claims by the National Vice Chairman, in the presence of the National Chairman that Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah single handedly picked and dictated to FEC on the selected company are false and should be completely disregarded. 

17. We note that another member of the Ofosu Ampofo campaign team, Oti Bless of Nkwanta, had also claimed that Mr. Asiedu Nketia and his son are the owners of the said company, and are paying themselves 38% in charges. 

18. For the record, neither the General Secretary nor his son has any interest or shareholding in the company selected and offered the contract to provide the platform. 

19. We can campaign for our preferred candidates without resorting to outright falsehoods and character assassination, which are attributes that are unbecoming of persons seeking to lead the NDC.

20. I am directed by ‘General’ Johnson Asiedu Nketiah to remind all his supporters and the generality of the NDC fraternity that despite the vitriolic attacks on him, and his person by his opposing contestant, we should all continue to focus on the issues, campaign for him for a dynamic, strategic, trustworthy, and fearless National Chairman for Victory 2024. 

21. I am also directed to encourage the incumbent National Chairman to sanitise his campaign in the best interest of the NDC. 

Edem Agbana 

Spokesperson 

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah Campaign 

22nd November 2022

Source: classfmonline.com/Elikem Adiku