Charles Mac-Carthy, Editor of The Hawk Newspaper, has accused some New Patriotic Party (NPP) regional chairmen and secretaries of accepting bribes to endorse the controversial Top-Down approach during the party’s recent National Council meeting.
In an interview on NetFm’s Memannti Programme monitored by Kumasimail with Adakabre Frimpong, Mac-Carthy alleged that regional chairmen who voted at the meeting received GH₵50,000 each, while secretaries took GH₵10,000 each to support the decision.
Mac-Carthy also accused the National Council of flagrantly violating the party’s constitution. He pointed out that the so-called “notice of poll” issued ahead of the election was vague and insufficient, noting, “They only said 31st of January there will be election, is that notice of poll? That’s not notice of poll, in the sense of notice of poll it is not.”
Adding to the turmoil, he revealed that the party has fixed an election date without even establishing an election committee, a move he described as unprecedented and suspicious.
“Who fixes an election date without an election committee? What’s the motive?” he questioned.
He also highlighted that the current polling station executives’ mandates expire in February next year, yet there was no discussion about extending their tenure at the National Council meeting.
The editor’s concerns extend beyond procedural irregularities.
He warned that the Top-Down approach, which effectively centralizes power, is being pushed through without proper consultation with constituency levels.
According to Mac-Carthy, decisions are made in Accra and then imposed on the grassroots, often facilitated by monetary inducements that stifle debate.
“This is a deliberate attempt to ‘pay their way out’ so that when the proposals reach the constituencies, people won’t have the chance to challenge them,” he said.
“One person moves the motion, another seconds it, and it’s accepted by popular acclamation all because money changed hands,” he added.
Daring any regional chairman or secretary to deny receiving the alleged payments, Mac-Carthy said, “Anyone who goes to the council meeting and voted and says didn’t take GH₵10,000 should come and let’s go curse ourselves. If you are a regional chairman and say didn’t take GH₵50,000, let them come and curse ourselves. I am talking on authority.”
When pressed on who paid the money, he declined to name individuals but insisted those involved know the source stating “They know who gave them the money. I say anyone who didn’t take the money should come forward, and let’s go curse ourselves.
“Secretaries and any person who voted at the National Council took GH₵10,000 while regional chairmen took GH₵50,000,” he boldly stated.
When asked again, ‘For what purpose?’ he responded sharply, “For the purpose of, excuse me to say this madness that you will roof a building before you dig the foundation (Top-Down Approach).”
Source : www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
