The opposition New Patriotic Party has described the latest twist to the raging Woyome saga as diversionary tactics; seeking to deflect attention from the “bread and butter” issues they raised at their first rally.

The NPP held its major rally over the weekend where its flagbearer, Nana Addo said President John Mills has lost touch with the concerns of the ordinary Ghanaian because he has failed to address issues confronting the nation such as unemployment, struggling businesses, high cost of education and widespread corruption.

A day after the rally, the Former Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports and MP for Aburi, Hon O.B Amoah was arrested and charged with willfully causing financial loss to the state, in connection with the controversial GhC51 million judgment debt payment to embattled businessman Alfred Woyome.

He was picked up at his Parakuo Estates residence, near Dome, and was whisked away to the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters. He was however given a GH¢20million bail bond with two sureties on Monday afternoon.

However, the party’s Deputy Communications Director, Sammy Awuku, tells Xfm 95.1 the arrest of O.B. Amoah was tactical.

“He is being charged with willfully causing financial loss to the state which is vague. President Mills is just diverting attention. They wanted to douse the flame of the gargantuan rally we held and the sensitive issues that we raised. Issues bordering on bread and butter and how many Ghanaians feel like second class citizens in their own country…How can you charge someone for willfully causing financial loss when he did not advise or authorize that money should be paid to Woyome? When your Attorney General is in court seeking to retrieve money paid to Woyome? How does O.B Amoah come in this? It is just something to divert attention. NDC wants to score an equalizer in this whole Woyome saga”.

Nonetheless, he said, the NPP is unperturbed and will continue to work hard to wrestle power from the NDC, saying, “Saturday marked the beginning of our year-long struggle towards recapturing power and also taking our country back onto winning ways and taking our people out of the shackles of poverty; unbridled corruption…of the highest order. NDC has been unfaithful to Ghanaians; their insincerity will run into opposition like Usain Bolt”.