Mills camp rubbishes 90 million cedis for campaign

Source : citifmonline



A member of President Mills’ Campaign Team, Dr. Omane Boamah, has refuted claims that an amount of 90 million Ghana Cedis has been earmarked for President Mills' campaign, ahead of the NDC’s Presidential primaries in July.

A close ally to the Rawlingses Mr. Herbert Mensah said on Monday May 9, that he has picked up credible information from some security capos that the incumbent President has budgeted GHC 90 million for his campaign to win the NDC flabearership slot, calling it abuse of incumbency against her opponents, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings and Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah.

The New Patriotic Party has upon this allegation, cautioned against the misuse of public funds by the President to prosecute his campaign.

The party has in a statement condemned what it calls the “show of opulence, profligacy, and disregard for public order and time” following President Mills’ picking of nomination forms on Thursday May 5.

But Dr. Omane Boamah, a Deputy Minister for Science and Environment and a Member of President Mills’ Campaign Team, has described the NPP’s criticism as needless.

He has also described the 90 million Ghana Cedis claim as untrue and unfounded and has dared the accusers to make available any evidence to that effect since that will benefit their candidate in the presidential race.

He said the allegation is a calculated attempt by the President’s opponents to tarnish his good image. According to him, President Mills is a humble and trustworthy person who will not involve himself in vote buying or sanction the use of public funds for his personal gain.

Dr. Boamah said the NPP was hugely traumatised by the crowd that greeted President Mills hence their reaction.

“If we had that ninety million Ghana Cedis which is 900 billion old Ghana cedis, we will use that to expand the 3,000 laptops that we are distributing, and also expand the schools under trees that we are eradicating, the free exercise books that we are distributing, and the school feeding programme that we have added 230 more schools. I want to state that it is not true and let anybody who says he has a shred of proof to demonstrate that we are earmarking 90 million Cedis for this campaign to come out with it”.

He said President Mills will embark on a modest campaign devoid of profligate spending.

“The campaign itself will let Ghanaians know the difference. We have seen a lot of Presidential primaries in this country and Ghanaians will be the better judges in knowing which campaign is going to be based on expenditure. We are not in America or in the NPP where it is going to be who is going to splash cash the most. President Mills will constantly touch base with the people and the campaign team will also touch base with delegates and foot soldiers to ensure that our victory will be dependent on the goodwill that the President continues to deepen and not how much money any of us is going to spend” he noted.