Deputy Director of Research at the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otukunor, has described as false, claims that the Mahama-led administration used part of the $175 million-loan meant to build hospitals to conduct a election-related research.
He explained that all research conducted by the party under the period being referred to was funded by the party.
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A Joy News investigation has revealed that the Ministry of Health in 2012, diverted part of a government loan facility into researching the then governing party’s popularity and chances of winning the 2016 general elections.
The research was a sub-contract under a 175 million dollar project awarded to British infrastructure company NMS for the construction of seven district hospitals and an integrated IT system.
The research was conducted by UK-based SCL Social, the mother company of Cambridge Analytica.
But the Deputy Minister of Health at the time of time the research was conducted, Rojo Mettle Nunoo, who was an administrator of the party’s campaign team said the report is “baseless and misleading”.
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Even though he admits knowing SCL Social and confirmed crucial campaign intelligence was gathered through a research, he insists it was not meant to test former President Mahama’s popularity.
In support, Peter Boamah Otokunor on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Tuesday said he was not surprised the NDC is being unfairly implicated.
He alleged that it is part of a ploy by the Akufo-Addo-led government to divert attention from the deteriorating socio-economic conditions in the country.
The NDC deputy Research Director said they will not allow the NPP to use them as a smokescreen to cover up their failures.
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He maintained that “the NDC did not receive any funds from the government to undertake any research”.
Peter Boamah Otokunor said the NDC would marshal all forces to stop the vile propaganda of the NPP.