Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, is investigating acting National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, on how he funded the purchase of 275 buses for all 275 constituencies of the party.
Mr. Blay has been widely criticized for taking steps to fulfill his promise of purchasing the cars, after he took delivery of the first batch of 100 mini buses at the Port on Wednesday, barely three days to the party’s national delegate’s congress in Koforidua, where he’s contesting to become the substantive national chairman.
Mr. Blay, who facilitated the purchase of the mini buses, is reported to have made a down payment of 3 million dollars, which constitutes 30% of the total cost of 11.4 million dollars for the 275 cars.
Mr. Blay’s spokesperson has explained that the buses are not for free, and that they are to help the constituencies to manage their activities by themselves, and generate revenue by using them for commercial purposes, to pay for them over a two-year period.
But Mr. Freddie Blay’s close contender in the NPP chairmanship race, Stephen Ntim, has accused him of seeking to buy votes with the gesture, whereas others have questioned the source of the money, alleging possible corruption.
A source at the Office of the Special Prosecutor told Citi News that Mr. Amidu will investigate Mr. Blay whether or not he wins this Saturday’s election.
The source said Mr. Martin Amidu is of the view that, Mr. Blay is a public officer as a Board Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and also as a national officer of the governing party who has influence, he falls under the Criminal offenses Act (1960) Act 29, and must therefore be questioned on his source of funding.
Mr. Stephen Ntim has advised the delegates of the NPP not to be swayed by the gifts and offers from Freddie Blay.
Source: citinewsroom
