One of the leading contenders for the National Chairmanship race in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Stephen Ayensu Ntim, says the President Nana Akufo -Addo never threatened him when he (President) prevailed upon him to step down in favour of Alhaji Short.
According to him, the president rather appealed to him(Ntim) to step down to make way for Alhaji Short, but he (Ntim) respectfully rejected the advice.
In a leaked audio which has gone viral on social media, Stephen Ntim allegedly suggested to party supporters at a meeting in Koforidua that he has been asked by President Akufo-Addo to step down from the race to allow Alhaji Short to contest and win the national chairman position.
He allegedly said in the audio that he was not going to be “an Afoko” and that he will be a different Chairman who will fight for the betterment of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in order to win power in 2020 regardless of the flagbearer.
In an interview with Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka AM Drive Tuesday, Ntim confirmed that the president made a genuine appeal adding, “we all have wishes as well as preferred candidates”.
Touching on the alleged tape, Mr. Ntim said although he had a meeting with party executives in Koforidua, he did not say most of the things being attributed to him.
“If you record my voice and play, it is not a leaked tape because I always speak the truth. Somebody doesn’t want to campaign, they just want to conjure manner from heaven and it won’t happen,” he said.
The timber magnate said he is not perturbed by current happenings and that he will contest the NPP chairmanship position despite previous disappointments.
Members of Alhaji Abubakari Abdul-Raham also known as Alhaji Short team have, however, condemned the alleged comments made by Mr. Stephen Ntim in a press statement.
Ghana | atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa