Drunkard allegations: ‘I’ll not retract a comment I didn't make against Mahama’ — Atta Akyea to NDC

Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea has denied calling former president and NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama a "drunkard".

The NDC issued a statement demanding that Mr. Atta Akyea retract and apologize for the "unfounded allegation" made during a mini-rally last Wednesday.

However, in an interview with Accra-based JoyNews on Friday, August 30, Mr. Atta Akyea insisted he never called Mr. Mahama a drunkard.

"What am I going to retract? It doesn't even accord with common sense that you retract something you have not said based on somebody's imagination of what you said," he said.

Mr. Atta Akyea described the NDC claims as "propaganda" and challenged anyone to find the exact quote where he referred to Mr. Mahama as a drunkard.

"In the video, with the greatest of respect, I never said former President John Dramani Mahama is a drunkard. Where is he gleaning that meaning from?" he questioned.

The Abuakwa South MP maintained he was only praising Vice President and NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's disciplined character as an economist who does not drink alcohol.

“If you see the whole story, what I was saying is that we are very blessed to have a very cultured man as an economist and Ghana has never had an economist as President. What is the bonus is that the man is very disciplined and he doesn't drink any alcohol. And I wouldn't retract from that. These are facts.

“Is Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia not an economist? Would you say that is false? And it is on record and it is known that he doesn't drink alcohol so why should I retract when I am stating facts? Undeniable facts and I believe that the discipline he is imbued with will inure to the benefit of Ghana if he is made President,” he said.