Accra (Greater Accra) 25 May '99

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has denied a report by an Accra newspaper, "Free Press" that the party attempted to confiscate the car of the late Luke Koo, MP for Lambussie.

A statement in Accra signed by the NDC National Press Secretary, Mr Vincent Asiseh, said on Monday that if the report was meant to whip up public sentiment and to cause disaffection towards the NDC in the forthcoming bye-election in the constituency then it is "obviously a cheap shot".

"To concoct such a spurious story, days before the by-election, portrays mischief on the part of the paper".

The statement said, when the issue was raised by Mr Jacob Boon, District Chief Executive for Jirapa Lambussie, the MP for Avenor, Mr Doe Adjaho, who stood in for the Speaker of Parliament gave the assurance that the car remains the property of the late MP.

The statement quoted, Mr James Adusei-Sarkodie, NPP MP for Atwima Nwabiagya who was present at the meeting, as saying "the story cannot be true because Mr Adjaho has no power to confiscate anybody's car".

The NDC statement advised the public, particularly the electorate in the constituency, to ignore the story "as some worthless piece of political buffoonery" and assured the family of the late Luke Koo that the party is people oriented.