Confusion reigns over the monetary compensations provided to selected journalists who participated in the meeting with New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer and Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, during the ‘Meet the Press’ event on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Aside from the Campaign Team omitting certain notable personalities such as Johnnie Hughes, Captain, and Rowland Walker, all affiliated with Media General, from attending the program, allegations have surfaced regarding substantial payments made to the favored attendees at the gathering held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
Captain Smart, host of the Onua Maakye morning show on Onua FM/Television, revealed that an astonishing sum of GH₵20,000 was disbursed to each participant of the event, with the money consisting of GH₵200 notes.
He further disclosed that his colleagues from the Media General organization who were present at the event received these payments. Furthermore, Smart detailed the banks from which the monies were withdrawn and identified the vehicle used to transport the cash from these banks.
The outspoken broadcaster challenged anyone doubting his claims to come forward and confront him, as he possesses a list of all the journalists present, whom he criticized as ‘nation wreckers’.
Captain’s account was contrasted by veteran broadcaster Adakabre Frimpong Manso, who stated that not every journalist received GH₵20,000 as claimed by Captain Smart.
Manso indicated that some journalists received GH₵10,000, while others were given GH₵5,000. Fact Check Ghana provided varying amounts of payment, with the highest reported sum being GH₵10,000.
Journalists, both from Accra and other regions, disclosed receiving payments ranging from as low as GH₵2,000 to as high as GH₵10,000.
Contrary to these reports, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, spokesperson for the Bawumia Campaign, denied the alleged payments of GH₵20,000 or GH₵10,000 to media personnel, stating that the highest amount given ranged between GH₵2,000 and GH₵5,000, with some recipients being bloggers.
These allegations of cash disbursement during meetings with Dr. Bawumia are not new, as similar claims have surfaced since the commencement of the campaign. Instances include purported cash distributions to religious and traditional leaders after engagements with the NPP’s flagbearer.
Such practices have raised concerns about bribery and undue influence, tarnishing the integrity of these interactions and bringing transparency into question.