The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembele, Hon. Freddie Worsemao Armah Blay, has thrown an open challenge to Nana Akufo Addo and his campaign team to come clean on the presidential candidate?s mental health status and cocaine use.

To him so long as the issue of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate remains a secret, it would provide an avenue for the media to speculate. For him, nobody can prevent the press and others from commenting on the cocaine use of Nana Akufo Addo, adding that whoever wants to gag people, must be living in the Middle Ages.

"The reality is that, the man is accused of using cocaine. Let us not hide that fact. People should not pretend and behave as if nothing is happening, and since the man is aspiring to lead this country, his drug addiction must not be kept secret," he told this paper in an interview.

Freddy Blay, who was reluctant to comment on the issue, said in his view, members and aides of Nana should have an effective way of dealing with the issue, instead of trying to gag people.

"They should find an effective way of handling or reacting to this matter. They cannot prevent people from talking about this matter. I know Nana Akufo Addo very well. He is my friend, but as far as his coke addiction issues remain secret, people would speculate and others would feed on the speculation."

The Ellembelle legislator maintained that though nobody is perfect, it was his humble submission that the campaign team of Nana come out, and state the actual mental status of the candidate to end the conundrum. He believes that anybody who seeks the high office of the land must be clean of drug addiction. This he believes is a major concern to the public and the nation at large. Mr. Blay, therefore, stressed that it would be unfortunate if such vital information was swept under the carpet.
The first Deputy Speaker gave reference to other presidents, across the globe, whose social/private life became topical.

"When somebody is aspiring to be the head of state, his mental health status must not be kept secret. It is important that we all know the mental status of Nana Akufo Addo," he said.