Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency, Francis Asenso Boakye, has said that only a “nation wrecker” would attempt to sponsor a candidate to unseat him.
Speaking at the commissioning of a new party office, Asenso Boakye reflected on the recent NPP’s immediate past Parliamentary primaries in Bantama, where he a strong opposition from NPP’s Flag bearer hopeful Kennedy Agyapong’s younger brother Raphael Agyapong who gave him a though time in the constituency despite defeating him.
He dismissed the challenge, saying it would be extremely difficult for anyone to defeat him unless backed by destructive intentions.
Asenso Boakye declared “I will give one example from the last primaries in Bantama, when someone came on board to challenge me. I always say, it would be very difficult in Bantama Constituency, unless someone who is a nation wrecker brings a candidate to unseat me, Asenso Boakye” he reiterated.
He narrated how his opponent tarnished his reputation through false allegations during the primaries, damaging both his image and that of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as well as the government led by President Akufo-Addo.
According to Asenso Boakye, his opponent circulated a manipulated news card depicting him handcuffed and arrested in the United States on allegations of carrying $3 million.
He explained that the artwork showed him in handcuffs alongside a foreign police officer, who was mistakenly depicted as British, further exposing the fabrication.
“Asenso Boakye, I was accused of traveling to America with $3 million in my bag and getting arrested. They even created artwork with handcuffs on my hands next to a foreign police officer,” he said.
He accused the opponent of attempting to win the parliamentary seat by destroying his reputation but reminded that such attacks also harm the party and government’s image.
Asenso Boakye stated “But on that matter, when they spread the propaganda, some believed it, and some Ghanaians accepted it. It was one of the things that made people believe the NPP is indeed corrupt, but it was false. Because he wanted to be an MP, he wanted to destroy me and take my place, but he forgot that in destroying me, he was also tarnishing the image of the party and the government.”
Asenso Boakye recalled receiving a call from an NDC journalist seeking comment on the arrest allegations, which he dismissed outright.
“It was Bobie Ansah who called me, and I told him that the fact he believed this means he is a fool. Then, I hung up.
“What I want to say is that it’s the foolishness we express about ourselves that people use against us,” he added.
Although Asenso Boakye did not name the opponent publicly, it is known that Raphael Agyapong, brother of prominent former NPP MP Kennedy Agyapong, was the challenger who lost to him in the primaries.
Source: www.Kumasimail/ Kwadwo Owusu
