NDC accuse NPP Parliamentary candidate of "Project Theft"

The hierarchy of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Sagnarigu constituency has warned NPP parliamentary candidate (PC) of the area Madam Felicia Tettey to desist from claiming ownership of the Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly (SaMA) projects.

According to the NDC, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) PC for the Saganarigu constituency had been claiming ownership of the ongoing assembly projects in the area.

The NDC in a press statement copied to Diamondfmonline.com, explained that, “We find it utterly dishonest and outrageous to see an attempt to attribute the assembly’s planned distribution of school furniture and streetlight bulbs to selected basic schools in the Sagnarigu constituency to Felicia Tettey. “This is an egregious political sin that must not be tolerated”, they said.

“The information we are picking from grapevine sources indicates that the contractor is being forced to personalize the project in the name of Felicia Tettey by putting her name on the wage bill in order to artificially boost her political standing ahead of the upcoming general elections. This brazen attempt to mislead the public and manipulate the truth for electoral gain is unacceptable, and we will not stand idly by while such deceitful tactics are employed”, they added.

Bellow is the full statement

PROJECT THEFT: FELICIA TETTEH AND THE NPP CAUGHT PANTS DOWN AGAIN

Read by

Abdulai Mohammed Amin

[Sagnarigu constituency communications officer for NDC]

Introduction

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to this urgent press conference. We stand before you today to address a serious and misleading claim that has been circulating—specifically, the false attribution of our district assembly’s initiative to supply furniture and streetlight bulbs to selected schools in the Sagnarigu District to one Felicia Tetey, the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Sagnarigu constituency
As a political party firmly rooted in the principles of probity and accountability, we are compelled to set the record straight. The truth must be told, and it is our duty to ensure that the good people of the Sagnarigu constituency receive accurate information about the origins and intentions of this initiative. We stand resolute in our commitment to transparency and will not tolerate any attempts to distort the facts for partisan advantage.

False claim

We find it utterly dishonest and outrageous to see an attempt to attribute the assembly’s planned distribution of school furniture and streetlight bulbs to selected basic schools in the Sagnarigu constituency to Felicia Tetey. This is an egregious political sin that must not be tolerated and will be thoroughly exposed as we are about to do. The information we are picking from grapevine sources indicates that the contractor is being forced to personalize the project in the name of Felicia Tettey by putting her name on the wage bill in order to artificially boost her political standing ahead of the upcoming general election. This brazen attempt to mislead the public and manipulate the truth for electoral gain is unacceptable, and we will not stand idly by while such deceitful tactics are employed.

The Records

Our records clearly show that this project is being funded by the District Assembly common fund and no individual not even the Municipal Chief Executive can claim credit for it. The District Assembly Common Fund Act of 1993 (Act 455) does not list parliamentary candidates as signatories, making Madam Felicia Tetey’s desperate attempt to claim ownership of these initiative not only baseless but also embarrassing.
This is not the first time this desperate NPP Parliamentary candidate has attempted to claim credit for projects she had no hand in. Similar false claims have been made regarding World Bank-funded projects in the constituency, such as the construction of the 2.1km road from Kpalsi to Dimala, the Jisonaayili market, and the Katariga-Dungu road. We want the good people of the Sagnarigu constituency to know that Felicia Tetey has no involvement in these projects. She is merely trying to bask in the glow of her party being in power, attempting to falsely associate herself with achievements she had no part in bringing about.

We have amassed overwhelming evidence that unequivocally debunks these false and humiliating claims. On September 25, 2018, in Washington, DC, the World Bank approved a $261 million project through the International Development Association (IDA) to scale up development initiatives in 35 secondary cities across Ghana, with Sagnarigu Municipal and Yendi Municipal Assemblies being among the beneficiaries. The approval of these funds predates Felicia Tetey’s emergence as the NPP’s parliamentary candidate in the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections, making it crystal clear that she had absolutely no involvement in securing these projects.
Furthermore, on June 8, 2022, the World Bank approved an additional $145 million IDA credit facility to Ghana to ensure the seamless execution of the secondary city support program. These facts underscore the reality that these projects were set in motion long before Tetey had any political relevance. The blatant attempt to claim credit for these initiatives is not only a gross misrepresentation but also an insult to the intelligence of the good people of the Sagnarigu constituency. We are confident that a thorough examination of the facts will expose the truth and reveal the extent of this political charade.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, let it be known that we are fully aware of Madam Felicia Tetey’s desperate and baseless claims of funding some notable SOCO projects in the Sagnarigu constituency. The Ghana Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) initiative is a significant international project targeting five West African countries—Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana—as beneficiaries. The SOCO projects in the Sagnarigu constituency include the installation of multiple boreholes, the construction of the Nangbagu Yapala animal market, the ongoing development of an astro turf at Sagnarigu Hilaliya Primary School, and the ongoing construction of market stores in Sagnarigu.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is appalling that a parliamentary candidate would shamelessly attempt to claim credit for such a significant initiative, clearly intended to mislead the good people of the Sagnarigu constituency for mere political gain. It is crucial to highlight that seven other districts in the Northern Region—namely Gushegu, Karaga, Saboba, Tatale, Yendi, and Tamale Metropolitan Assemblies—are also beneficiaries of these projects. At this juncture, one must question: has Felicia Tetey somehow managed to lobby for these other districts to be included as beneficiaries as well? The audacity to claim such a sweeping initiative as her own is not only misleading but also dishearten

To the distinguished media present, let us serve notice: deception and lies will find no favor in this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections in the Sagnarigu constituency. We call on Felicia Tetey to initiate her own projects instead of misleading the public about projects she has no knowledge of.
We are also fully aware of the supply of earth-moving equipment to the MMDAs through the District Road Improvement Program (DRIP), funded by the District Assembly Common Fund and various donor agencies. We caution Felicia Tetey against associating herself with these road construction projects when the equipment arrives in the Sagnarigu district. Any shameless attempt to claim credit will be met with fierce resistance from us.
We want to reiterate that the ongoing World Bank projects, SOCO initiatives, and other projects funded by the District Assembly Common Fund and donor agencies can never be attributed to any desperate parliamentary candidate who has no personal projects in the Sagnarigu constituency. We urge the public to be vigilant against misinformation and to verify facts through reputable sources.
Thank you for your attention on this matter. We are committed to transparency and accuracy.

Story By: Alhassan Yakubu |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.