I never called Buhari a 'sick old man' - Ahi condemns mischievous publication

Deputy Water Resources Works and Housing Minister, Sampson Ahi has vehemently denied describing President-elect of Nigeria, General Mahamadu Buhari as a sick old man ahead of the elections.

The deputy Minister is alleged to have urged Gen. Buhari to concentrate on taking care of his grandchildren instead of running for the presidency while addressing students at an event at the Sefwi Wiawso College of Education in the Western region.

The deputy minister was said to have been speaking to a student wing of the NDC on campus.

The comment posted on peacefmonline.com and reported in the News Statesman newspaper and other online sites has attracted bashing from Ghanaians.

But speaking to JOYNEWS on Wednesday, Sampson Ahi said he never spoke at any event and described the media publication as reckless.

He feared the "needless and fabricated" story could create a diplomatic row between Ghana and Nigeria.

The deputy Works and Housing Minister is convinced the publication is politically motivated ahead of the 2016 general elections.

“I have never called Buhari a sick old man; it's not in my culture to discuss people's heath. This is just mischief,” he bemoaned.

Sampson Ahi challenged anyone to find out from the principal, teachers and students at the college if there is any truth in his purported visit to the campus.