A former parliamentary candidate for Bolgatanga Central on the ticket of the People’s National Convention(PNC), Thomas Akurugu, who recently announced his defection to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has debunked claims that he joined the NDC because of corruption in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
Speaking on Daybreak Upper East on A1 Radio today, November 4, 2020, Mr Akurugu explained that he became a member of the NDC in 2017, a time the NPP was not hit with corruption scandals. He stressed that claims he joined the party because of corruption in the NPP government must be disregarded.
“Sometimes, you’re surprised about some of the things you hear out there…I gave reasons why I joined the party. At the time of 2017, I don’t think I had any corruption record to say about the NPP. So I want that to be cleared…I didn’t say anything like that,” he stated.
Mr Akurugu clarified that it was rather the NDC’s Upper East Regional Secretary, Donatus Akamukire, who said his defection to the NDC will help to rescue Ghana from the corrupt government of the NPP.
Last Saturday, Mr Akurugu announced his defection to the NDC at a well-attended ceremony in Sumbrumgu. He stated, among others, that he had abandoned the PNC for the NDC because it was impossible to beat the NDC in the Bolga Central constituency.
Mr Akurugu came third with 7, 431 votes out of six candidates who contested for the Bolga Central seat in 2016. He is considered affable and charismatic. His defection to the NDC will surely come with gains for the party, analysts say.
