In the latest episode of political theatrics, a spokesperson for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kofi Tonto, found himself entangled in a web of deception while attempting to discredit the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, during a live television appearance.
This incident closely followed a similar misstep by Deputy Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Issahaku Chinnia, who had previously made unfounded allegations against the former president.
During a segment on Metro Television’s Good Morning Ghana program, Kofi Tonto, a key aide to NPP’s Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, sought to deflect criticisms of the government’s levies on petroleum products by implicating Mahama in similar actions.
In his fervent efforts to draw a parallel, Kofi claimed that Mahama had callously advised citizens to opt for public transport when faced with rising fuel prices, a statement that was met with skepticism by the program host, Dr. Randy Abbey.
Despite Kofi’s attempts to support his claim by referencing various news sources, he failed to produce any concrete evidence of Mahama’s alleged statement. Dr. Abbey, unconvinced by the lack of substantiation, challenged Kofi to provide the exact quote attributed to Mahama.
This debacle marked the second instance in recent days where an NPP member faced public scrutiny for propagating falsehoods on live television. Meanwhile, in a separate incident that garnered attention, Issahaku Chinnia, the Deputy Minister, faced a similar fate when attempting to equate actions of government officials with those of the NDC.
Chinnia’s dramatic assertions, including claims that Mahama had sold state assets and purchased lands, were swiftly challenged during the discourse by Dr. Abbey and other panel members.
Furthermore, a subsequent expose aired on GHOne’s morning show revealed alarming details about Chinnia’s own alleged involvement in illicit practices, such as acquiring government lands for personal ventures and engaging in questionable business dealings with family members.
The unraveling of these revelations shed light on a wider narrative of impropriety and misuse of state resources involving certain political figures.
As the political landscape in Ghana continues to witness such high-stakes rhetorical clashes, these incidents underscore the importance of transparency and accountability in public discourse and governance.