The campaign team of former Trade and Industry Minister, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has described as “treacherous and distasteful”, recent claims by a former member of the team, Isaac Kofi Ahimah, that the aspirant is only contesting for the flagbearership of the NDC to enrich himself.

A recent Daily Guide publication captioned "Dr. Spio fights campaign boys", quoted Mr. Ahimah as allegedly stating that: “Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah is posting his contributions to NDC on some platforms and also asking for help towards his agenda to become the flagbearer for our dear party, the NDC. We want to reject his words because he is not serious. Spio thinks he is the smartest person in NDC, trying to use the party to mobilize funds for himself. He has no intention to contest the NDC primaries as he has already thrown his support behind former President Mahama, so he could be considered as a running mate which he will not get. A serious candidate will support the reorganization process, particularly the election of constituency and regional officers of the NDC.”

But responding to the allegations in a statement signed by campaign spokesperson, Robert Afulimi, the team argued that the allegations were only a means by Mr. Ahimah to discredit the “hard-earned global reputation of Dr. Spio-Garbrah”.

According to the statement, the former trade minister is still in the race for flagbearership to bring all constituents of the party together and not to enrich himself as alleged.

The statement further asked the media and the public to disregard what it describes as the rantings of a traitor and extortionist as Mr Ahimah has been “caught frequently visiting the office of a leading member of a rival campaign team to solicit for money.”

Find the statement below;

PRESS STATEMENT FROM TEAM SPIO

The attention of the Spio-Garbrah campaign team has been drawn to the treacherous, distasteful, and false claims and comments of one Isaac Kofi Ahimah about the Spio-Garbrah Campiagn. Mr Ahimah’s disreputable attack on the Spio-Garbrah campaign is most regrettable, as he is the highest beneficiary of the generosity of Dr. Spio-Garbrah. Mr Ahimah’s false claim that the candidate is not contesting the NDC presidential slot is outlandish, as Dr. Spio-Garbrah is still very much in the race.

First of all, the SPIO Garbrah team, as experienced as it is, finds the insidious machinations most strange. Among the potential Presidential aspirants of the great NDC for 2020, Dr Spio-Garbrah is the veteran among them, since he is the only one who has contested in any competitive flagbearership elections of the party—in 2006. He did not throw in the towel even when he faced a strong challenge from then candidate Prof Mills who later became President of our dear nation. Dr Spio-Garbrah placed second in the line-up of 2006. He remained in the party, contributed his mettle to its progress and has been visible in the mass quest of party members for a resurgent and vibrant NDC.

With reference to a Daily Guide publication captioned "Dr Spion fights campaign boys", the newspaper should have observed a key tenet of media practice by cross checking from the bulk team of his campaign to weigh the facts before putting the story to bed. Mr Ahimah became a renegade after being caught frequently visiting the office of a leading member of a rival campaign team, to solicit for money. He confessed to his treacherous conduct before a Disciplinary Committee of the Spio Campaign Team, apologized and asked for forgiveness.

Subsequently, failing in his excessive demands for money, Kofi Ahimah has become a more obvious traitor, blackmailer and extortionist, making claims he knows to be false and therefore libelous. Nonetheless, Dr Spio-Garbrah's team in setting the records straight, will like to affirm his candidature in the race when nominations are open, and that quest is unflinching.

Dr Spio- Garbrah is a man of integrity and at no point in his extensive career in public service, nationally and internationally, had any charges been brought against him either for official malfeasances or social friction. All he stands for is to give the NDC a new direction by bringing all constituents of the party together.

NDC Party faithful and the general public are invited to disregard the rantings of Kofi Ahimah. Media houses are requested to tread cautiously in circulating the libelous writings of Mr. Ahimah aimed at denigrating the hard-earned global reputation of Dr. Spio-GArbrah, in view of their actionable implications.

The Spio-Garbrah Campaign for President 2020 has so far distinguished itself by not attacking any other aspirant or candidate for the NDC leadership. The Campaign intends to remain focused and not to be distracted by the falsehoods of traitors and extortionists. Our journey still remains Forward.

Signed:

Robert Afulimi
Campiagn Spokesman for Dr Spio-Garbrah for President 2020