Regional News of Monday, 16 April 2012

Source: Searchlight

Ken Kuranchie targets Nii Lantey Vanderpuije

It is becoming obvious that the Editor of the Searchlight, Ken Kuranchie, knows no shame. In spite of the many times he has been exposed after publishing false news, an action which has earned him the award of “ Honour of the Vulture (opete),” he continues to publish stories that are blatantly false.

Just a few days after he was exposed for publishing outright lies about the Ahwoi brothers ( Ato Ahwoi, Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi and Kwesi Ahwoi), feelers picked up by the Daily Post indicates that he has targeted Presidential Aide, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije for another false publication ; The Searchlight intends to publish that President Mills has dismissed Nii Lantey as one of his Aides.

Since the re-introduction of democracy in Ghana in 1992, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije’s ability to mobilize supporters of the NDC in Accra, particularly from the Odododiodio constituency has been a source of worry to the NPP. As a result, as soon as they were handed political power in 2001, one of the NPP’s moves was to frame up charges against him, arrest and cage him thereby clipping his wings. The former ace-football commentator has, however, proved to be a tough nut for the NPP. He effectively worked together with others to ensure that the NDC won back the Greater Accra Region in the 2008 elections, a key factor in the NDC’s Presidential and parliamentary victory that year.

Nii Lantey’s decision to contest the Odododiodio seat on the ticket of the NDC, and the subsequent nod given him by his constituents has given the NPP extra job to do as the December election looms. All efforts are therefore being made to create public disaffection for him through baseless allegations and outright lies. It is in the scheme of the dirty propaganda against this aspiring MP that Ken Kuranchie and his Searchlight newspaper intend to publish outright falsehoods about him.

Last Thursday, 12th April, 2012, The Searchlight claimed in a front page story that the Ahwoi brothers were booed and hooted at on the 8th of April, 2012 when they visited Sefwi Juaboso where they hail from. However, news streaming in from the Western Region suggests that the Ahwois rather received a tumultuous welcome to the Sefwi traditional area not only because they hail from there but also because of their immense contributions towards development there.

After touring some of the centres where the biometric registration was taking place, they paid a courtesy call on the Adontehene of the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area, Nana Kwame Nkrumah II, who is also the chief of Sefwi Bodi. They were given a rousing welcome with the chief and his elders paying glowing tributes to them for their commitment towards development of the area. At Sefwi Ahibenso where they hail from, a huge crowd gathered in their family home to fraternize with them. As a result, the people of Sefwi are wondering where Ken Kuranchie got his news item from on the Ahwoi brothers that they were booed at on their recent visit to the area. But for many, it is vintage Ken Kuranchie; he and false publications are good bed-fellows!