Fiifi Boafo, spokesperson for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has criticized the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, for failing to conduct a thorough check before publicly commenting on the Daakye bond.

John Mahama has issued a strong warning regarding the misuse or misappropriation of funds from the Daakye Bond.

At a Youth Forum in Ho on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Mr. Mahama specifically mentioned Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the NPP running mate and former Education Minister, saying he had questions to answer about the management of the Daakye Bond.

He said that when Dr. Opoku Prempeh was the Minister for Education, he allegedly handled the distribution of 4 billion cedis from the Daakye Bond.

Many of the projects that were meant to be supported by this bond remain unfinished, he pointed out, criticizing the lack of work on them.

“This person who is the running mate for Dr. Bawumia was the Minister of Education, and he brought a bond to Parliament called the Daakye Bond. It has led to the collateralization of the GETFund, so this year, total receipts from the GETFund should amount to about 7 billion cedis. About 4 billion of that was taken in the Daakye bond by NAPO and his Ministry of Education.

“Tell me, what was that money used for? The project that they said they were coming to fast-track and finish is still standing there unfinished, so how did they apply that money? And so, people have questions to answer,” he said.

But reacting to John Mahama's claims, Fiifi Boafo said evidence of how the fund was used is visible for all to see in terms of the provision of educational facilities.

He disclosed in an interview on Joy FM monitored by GhanaWeb that over 3,000 projects have been funded with money from the Daakye bond.

"A total of 3,001 projects from 2017 to date have been completed. These include 1,551 basic schools, 1,267 SHSs, 16 E-blocks, 2 TVET centers, 153 tertiary institution facilities, and 2 model schools. Among them are legacy schools (1,827), basic schools (1,007), SHSs (662), 16 E-blocks, tertiary institutions (142), and delayed projects (1,174), including 554 basic schools, 605 SHSs, 11 tertiary institutions, and 2 TVET centers. Of course, there are new projects that have been started, projects that are ongoing—9 model schools under construction at the moment."

Fiifi Boafo wondered why the former president failed to notice the existence of these projects.

"So is the former president saying he is not aware of all these? I am talking of over 3,000 projects that have been completed, and he said they are at a standstill. Obviously, he didn't get his briefing right," Fiifi Boafo said.

KA/EK