New Patriotic Party(NPP) communicator, Benjamin Gyewu-Appiah, has apologised to Ghanaians over his bold declaration to set himself ablaze if John Dramani Mahama wins the 2024 election.

In an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Tuesday, Mr Gyewu-Appiah stated he did not think any Ghanaian would take the statement seriously, hence the apology.

“I’m sorry if Ghanaians thought I would set myself on fire. It was just a political talk and I didn’t think anyone would take it seriously,” he said.

The NPP communicator a few weeks before the 2024 election expressed confidence about its flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s landslide victory.

He stated the work done by the NPP would pay off as a reward for the Vice President and cast doubts on the chances of President-elect John Mahama, vowing to set himself on fire.

Following Mahama’s decisive victory with 6,328,397 votes, constituting 56.55%, many have questioned if he will put his words into action.

But Mr Gyewu-Appiah expressed regret over his actions, explaining he made the declaration after Dr. Bawumia’s victory was undermined.

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Speaking from an undisclosed location, Gyewu-Appiah admitted that his comment was a political expression meant to rally support for the NPP and not a serious declaration.

The communicator explained that, his remark was made during a heated exchange, following doubts about Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s chances of winning or even garnering 20% of the votes.

Confident in Dr. Bawumia’s prospects, he claimed the statement was meant to energize party supporters to show up in large numbers on election day.

Gyewu-Appiah expressed regret, acknowledging the impact of his words on his family, friends, and party executives, who have grown increasingly concerned for his safety.

“There is no way I will ever resort to suicide,” he assured, calling on Ghanaians to forgive him for what he described as a “political gimmick.”

He also noted that similar hyperbolic statements by politicians have been overlooked in the past and did not anticipate his being taken so seriously.

Gyewu-Appiah pledged to be more mindful of his public utterances in the future.

According to sources, Emmanuel Tetteh, a key member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications team in Lower Manya Krobo, reconnected power to his sachet water factory in Nuaso-Newtown after the ECG team had previously disconnected it.

He also failed to appear at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) district office after the company summoned him.

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However, he illegally reconnected himself, resulting in his arrest.

A communications team member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Vera Wiredu, has defended President Nana Akufo-Addo over the appointment of new Electoral Commission (EC) members.

According to her, the appointees were selected by the Council of State following extensive consultation.

All President Akufo-Addo did was approve the names of the nominees.

“The President is in his office, the Council of State did their selection, did their findings, did their consultations extensively, and brought the names to him, it was not the NPP that brought these individuals, it was not the president that hand-picked these individuals but the Council of State,” she said on Accra-based TV3.

The President on Monday swore in Salima Ahmed Tijani, Dr Peter Appiahene and Rev Akua Ofori Boateng as new members of the EC.

They replace Mrs Hajia Sa-Adatu Maida, Mr Ebenezer Aggrey-Fynn and Mrs Rebecca Kabukie Adjalo who have all retired.

They have, therefore, joined Mrs Jean Mensa as Chairperson, Mr Samuel Tettey as Deputy Chairman for Operations, Dr Bossman Eric Asare, Deputy Chairman for Corporate and Ms Adwoa Asuama Abrefa as Commissioner.

Their appointment has been met with mixed reactions considering the fact that it comes about 21 months into the 2024 election coupled with claims Dr Peter Appiahene is a known NPP activist and makes his new role politically motivated.

But Madam Wiredu has said the Council of State has respected individuals and it will not be right for people to create a wrong impression about the appointment.

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“We have astute individuals serving on the council, we have chiefs, we have NDC people, and even Honorable ET Mensah is on it.

“So let us not create a wrong impression, let us not confuse our viewers and Ghanaians into believing that it is His Excellency Nana Addo or the NPP party doing something out of the ordinary,” she urged.

Play audio above:

The suspension, according to a statement, comes on the back of an alleged public declaration of support for Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen as a flagbearer.

The statement, signed by the Regional Director of Communications, Mohammed Sheriff Ibrahim, noted that the act is contrary to the party’s Constitution.

“As already noted in Chairman’s statement dated December 30, 2021, the unfortunate situation of peaking before time has the tendency to disrupt H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s governance and the peace within the New Patriotic Party in the region,” the statement read in part.

The statement further cautioned anyone who deals with Alhaji Kaleem does so at his or her own risk.

Meanwhile, the suspended communicator has dismissed the allegations levelled against him, stating they are false and misleading.

Though he admitted he was present at an event organised every Tuesday by ‘Friends of Alan’ to espouse his achievements as Minister, he never campaigned for him as purported.

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“It’s absolute lie. It’s not true. The programme was organised by ‘Friends of Alan’ and I happen to go there every Tuesday and it’s not about campaigning.

“It’s talking about Alan’s Ministry, what he has done, the factories and other things that he has done so it’s absolute lie,” he said on Joy FM’s Top Story.

Read the full statement below: