Kumasi, June 17, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Task

Force of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said

allegations of financial malfeasance levelled against Alhaji

Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, the Minister of Youth and Sports,

were lies. It said the minister is a hard working person with a

distinguished character and that the allegations are calculated to

mar his good reputation. Mr. Umar Saeed Usman, Secretary of the Task Force,

said this at a press conference in Kumasi on Tuesday. He described Alhaji Muntaka as a man of integrity and

transparency. The Secretary noted that the Minister is also a

courageous person with the ambition to protect the interest of the

nation adding that such a person could not have done such a

thing. Mr. Usman alleged that information gathered by the

task force showed that "there are certain elements in the party

who are bent on removing the minister from office". He therefore appealed to President John Atta Mills to

be wary of those elements who were parading themselves in the

corridors as "king makers". "If care is not taken the NDC can split into different

factions and that will affect their chances of retaining power in the

2012 elections." He pledged the support of all the youth in the region

and called on the supporters to remain calm.