Politics of Tuesday, 29 August 2006

Source: PeaceFM

Kwabena Agyepong Is Not Qualified – Haruna Iddrisu

The NDC Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu has described Kwabena Agyepong’s presidential ambition as most unfortunate. The ex-press secretary to the President, J. A. Kufuor last week announced his intention to contest in the presidential slot of the NPP, making the number 12 as to those who have publicly announced their bid. Speaking on Metro TV, the national youth organiser of the NDC declared that Kwabena Agyepong does not qualify to contest the highest office of the land. Haruna admired the enthusiastic spirit of the former Presidential spokesman but stated that he does not think he is qualified to vie for that slot. “He (Agyepong) is not up to the task”, he said.

According to the NDC MP, Kwabena Agyepong who was indicted by the Gbedemah Commission for receiving a whooping $12,000 as a gift without the payment of tax during a player transfer has no moral justification in calling on Ghanaians to entrust in him the authority of the highest office of the land.

Haruna said he would be surprised if the NPP delegate’s endorsed the candidature of Agyepong as flagbearer of the Party at the NPP congress. The Youth Organiser however said he was praying that the NPP chose a wrong candidate to enable the NDC have a field’s day. He noted that of the people who have announced their candidature only five of them are serious. He mentioned Yaw Osafo Maafo, Nana Akufo-Addo, Hackman Owusu Agyemang, Prof. Mike Ocquaye and Dr. Frimpong Boateng.

On candidate Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, the Tamale South MP noted that although the Minister of Defence who is in his early 60s, a nice gentleman and a great achiever, the notice that the presidency is not a dynasty would affect him. Alhaji Aliu Mahama’s bid would be hit by the Dagbon crisis in spite of the fact there is no evidence of his involvement in the circumstances which lead to the murder of the Ya-Na, Abdulai Yakubu II.