I have enough dollars to pay delegates – Bibiani-Ahnwiaso-Bekwai MP

The Member of Parliament for Bibiani-Ahnwiaso-Bekwai in the Western North region, Alfred Obeng Boateng, has reaffirmed his earlier statement in a leaked audio tape indicating that he has enough money to buttress his campaign towards the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries slated for February 2024.

Mr. Obeng Boateng, in the viral audio tape, could be heard boasting of how he has stocked dollars in his account to provide financial support to delegates in his constituency to match any offers from his political contenders.

Mr. Obeng Boateng expressed his readiness to provide as much as GHC20,000 to each of the over 2000 delegates in the area, stating that he had ample financial resources in dollars to match or exceed any potential offers from his competitors.

However, Mr. Obeng Boateng, in an interview monitored by theghanareport on Citi News, noted that the leaked audio tape had been doctored.

He clarified that he intended to pay more than what others might offer but not necessarily double the amount.

“I don’t know who said double, [but] I said I was willing to pay more than they intend doing but not double,” Mr Obeng Boateng.

Additionally, he emphasized that he had kept his money in dollars and reiterated that there was no wrongdoing in having dollar accounts. He pointed out that the possession of dollars should not be misconstrued as hoarding or illegal activity.

“Well, I said that as somebody who plans ahead, as somebody who knows what he is doing… I should be prepared by now…They are talking about bringing their foreign partners to transfer dollars, and I equally have dollars in Ghana here. The dollar is not a contraband item, the dollar is not cocaine, and the dollar is a currency that we spend in Ghana. Various people have dollar accounts, cedi accounts, and euro accounts”.

“I have kept my money in dollars, and I don’t see any news in this, and I don’t see why this should be misconstrued. If I have kept money in dollars, it means that the dollars have been hoarded or packed in my bedroom”.

Mr. Obeng Boateng further explained that his statements were intended to deter potential competitors and not as an attempt to purchase votes. He believes that his comments did not warrant investigation by any regulatory agency, such as the Special Prosecutor.

Moreover, the MP justified that his actions show how financially prepared he is for the upcoming campaign for the parliamentary primaries and his willingness to support the delegates in his constituency.