Ghana’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Said Sinare, has dismissed claims by NPP National Vice Chairman Alhaji Osman Masawudu, popularly known as Chairman Buga, that he personally stopped him from attacking then-NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia during the 2024 general election campaign.
In a statement, Mr Sinare described the claim as “revisionist history” intended to revive what he called a “sinking campaign” ahead of the NPP’s internal elections.
His comments follow a viral video in which Chairman Buga, who is seeking re-election, reportedly claimed that he intervened to prevent Mr Sinare from describing Dr Bawumia as anti-Muslim and accusing him of consuming pork, drinking local alcohol (apio) and engaging in acts contrary to Islamic teachings.
Mr Sinare, however, rejected the claim, insisting that Chairman Buga had neither the authority nor the influence to regulate his political commentary.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Chairman Buga did not stop me from anything during the 2024 campaign or at any other time,” he said.
“I did not seek his permission to campaign, I did not encounter any imaginary roadblock erected by him, and I certainly did not require his authorisation to expose the political contradictions surrounding his flagbearer.”
According to Mr Sinare, his activities during the 2024 campaign speak for themselves.
He said that as Chairman of the NDC Zongo Caucus, he travelled across the country, visiting Zongo constituencies and communities, engaging community elders and the youth, mobilising grassroots support and campaigning for President John Dramani Mahama and NDC parliamentary candidates.
“I did not conduct that arduous work from the comfort of an air-conditioned studio, nor did I rely on manufactured social media narratives,” he said.
Mr Sinare accused Chairman Buga of attempting to portray himself as a “heroic gatekeeper” who restrained him during the campaign, describing the claim as a “ludicrous revisionist narrative” intended to manufacture political relevance.
He further argued that attempts to rehabilitate Dr Bawumia’s political image through such claims would not succeed.
“If Chairman Buga believes he can rehabilitate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s battered political image by inventing fictional battles and rewriting history, he is sorely mistaken,” Mr Sinare stated.
He cited what he described as Dr Bawumia’s record, economic stewardship, broken promises, concerns surrounding Hajj fares and broader political posture as factors that had damaged his political standing.
“Dr Bawumia’s political currency has depreciated beyond redemption,” he said, adding that no amount of “revisionist storytelling” could restore it.
Mr Sinare also advised Chairman Buga to focus on accounting to NPP delegates for his own record rather than using his name in his re-election campaign.
“I therefore advise Chairman Buga to stop using my name as a lifebuoy for his drowning re-election campaign and instead concentrate on explaining his record to the NPP delegates who will ultimately decide his political fate,” he said.
He warned that he would respond with “facts, history and the full force” of his voice should Chairman Buga continue to involve him in his political calculations.
“Politics is not a funeral. If Chairman Buga cannot withstand the heat, he should get out of the kitchen,” Mr Sinare added.
“But if he dares to continue dragging my name into his political calculations, I will respond with facts, history and the full force of my voice.”
