Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has denied allegations that he facilitated the entry of the Mamprusi Chief into Bawku ahead of the general elections.
Speaking during an engagement with minority Members of Parliament (MPs), Dr. Bawumia expressed his confusion over how the Chief was allowed into the conflict-prone area without his knowledge.
“Up till now, I do not understand why the Mamprusi Chief was allowed to travel to Bawku prior to the elections,” he stated. “I confronted President Akufo-Addo and the National Security Coordinator, Mr. Asomani, about it in London, but nobody gave me any explanation.”
Dr. Bawumia emphasized that he was wrongly accused of enabling the Chief’s entry into Bawku, clarifying that he had no prior knowledge of the event.
“I was accused of being responsible for facilitating the entry of the Mamprusi Chief into the Bawku community when I knew absolutely nothing about it. I am still seeking answers as to how The Chief was allowed to enter the Bawku township in the run-up to the elections,” he said.
The controversy surrounding the Mamprusi Chief’s presence in Bawku has been a sensitive issue, given the long-standing chieftaincy dispute in the region.
The Vice President’s comments come in the wake of increased scrutiny over the government’s handling of security in Bawku, a hotspot of ethnic and political tensions.
Dr. Bawumia also addressed concerns over divisive rhetoric within his own party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He noted that some remarks made by party members during internal elections were later used against him by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the general elections.
“Sometimes, when I watch replays of the comments a leading personality of our party made about me in the heat of our internal competition and the NDC used against me, I get so sad and emotional,” he admitted.
He urged NPP members to be mindful of their public statements, emphasizing that their words could have lasting political consequences.
“This should be a lesson to all of us that moving forward, we must watch our public utterances and the way we conduct ourselves. This should not be limited to me or the presidential elections but to everyone in our party at every level of elections,” he stated.
The Vice President’s remarks highlight growing concerns over both intra-party unity and national security challenges in the lead-up to the next elections.
source :www.kumasimail.com
