The incumbent New Patriotic Party —NPP–member of parliament for Tatale/Saguli constituency in the northern region, Mr James Yunwunbe has denied charges that he is a dual citizen of Ghana and the United Kingdom.
He also dismissed claims by some constituency executives of the NPP that he travels through Togo airport instead of through Kotoka International Airport.
Narrating his current predicament to news men in Tamale, Mr Yunwunbe said his intention to contest this year elections as an independent candidate was born out several frivolous accusations by his own party members who accused him of being an NDC mole.
“Yes, it is true that I was an NDC member in 1999 through a friend who invited me into the party but I left them which is acceptable in Ghanaian politics,” he said.
Mr Yunwunbe who lost his bid for a second term during the NPP parliamentary primaries claimed the constituency chairman masterminded his defeat and promised to recapture the seat as an independent candidate.
He added that his going independent has the blessings of some NPP bigwigs such as Mr Dan Botwe who encouraged him when the issue got to him.
“Mr Dan Botwe told me to go independent on the day MPs voted against the date for November elections 2016. I wrote to the party hierarchy but no response,” Mr Yunwunbe added.
He showed journalists his diplomatic passport which he uses to travel with the finance and energy committee of Ghana’s parliament. Mr Yunwunbe explained that, he joined the NPP on 28th December in 2008 at the time he was a senior lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. ” I am not an idle person to be frustrated by some party members,” the fame management and training consultant charged.
The Tatale/Saguli legislator challenged those accusing him to do a background check on him properly before making unsubstantiated claims that he was an NDC mole.
“I am a patron and I had paid my fees as a patron and also as a member of the young executives forum, an NPP strong hold where most MPs are taken from, he explained.
“I supported the then Zabzugu/Tatale constituency with my own resources as a consultant,” and accused the NPP chairman of trying to have control over Tatale constituency which has been separated.
“I learnt something from politics, you must have somebody before you are recognized,” he observed, confirming the widely speculated deep divisions among NPP members.
He also denied allegations that he had abandoned Konkomba communities, saying that he had supported 16 Konkomba communities and two Basare communities. Shieni is the oldest town in the area
“When it comes to politics and tribe, Konkombas vote for Konkombas no matter what and it is based on something I cannot explain,” the Tatale MP admitted.
