Victor Smith apologies to President over Veep comments

The Eastern Regional Minister Victor Smith has rendered an unqualified apology to the President, John Dramani Mahama, for his comments following the nomination of Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as the Vice President.

There were dissenting voices in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the choice of the former Governor of Bank of Ghana, triggered by fears that the nominee does not have what it takes to help the party win the December elections.

Meanwhile, Eastern Regional Minister, Victor Smith who was the first leading figure within the party to publicly question Amissah-Arthur's electoral credentials, says his stance was misunderstood.

In a statement issued by Mr Smith on Thursday, the Minister remarked: “I wish to render unqualified apology to the President, HE John Dramani Mahama, Vice-President Nominee Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur and all others who have been aggrieved by my comments.”

Earlier in his statement, Mr Smith noted: “On the issue of the Vice Presidential nominee; I granted a number of interviews intending to clarify that the president's nominee was not necessarily his Running Mate for the 2012 election. The import of my comment has been misconstrued.“

The Vice President-designate, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has rebuffed the criticisms on his nomination, saying those who doubt his loyalty to the governing National Democratic Congress have not really known him.

Victor Smith concurred with him: “I don't have any ill feeling against Mr Amissah-Arthur. He is a loyal member of the NDC and I have no question about his credentials to occupy the office for which the President has nominated him.”