Odike "exposes" motive for setting up political party (audio)

A leaked telephone conversation making the rounds in political circles suggests that monetary gains was the primary motive for setting up the newly-formed political party - United Progressive Party (UPP), led by Mr Akwasi Addai Odike.

In the conversation, a voice purported to be that of Odike is heard telling one Gideon Duako, said to be the Central Regional Chairman of the UPP who has apparently broken ranks with Odike to 'return home' because some promised cash from the ruling government would soon be advanced the party.

The conversation was in Twi, and Odike was heard saying very soon they will bring me the monies for the work, and we will recover our cost. When you go behind my back with your machinations, Asiedu Nketia calls me and give me all the information. The money will come very soon.

Mr Odike has since denied that the voice in the audio was his.

Listen to the leaked telephone conversation here

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At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) said the UPP recently outdoored its new colours, which are quite close to that of the NPP.

The NPP claimed that many people have wondered why this new party will deliberately choose new colours that are close to the colours of another political party and may confuse supporters of both parties.

They therefore accused the "NDC government of spending taxpayers monies on - sponsoring pseudo political parties."

Mr Odike has been engulfed in a series of battles of supremacy in recent times with his political party.

There was confusion in the UPP last week following his purported dismissal as founder , national chairman and flagbearer by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Whilst the executives claimed they have sacked him for flouting the party's constitution, Mr Odike on his part said those claiming to have sacked him have no locus in the party.

Odike who is a Kumasi-based business tycoon and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Odike Ventures left the United Front Party (UFP) which he spearheaded its formation under similar circumstances of supremacy struggle to form this new party (UPP).

He contested the 2012 presidential elections as candidate for the United Front Party but following a series of disagreements with the national executive led by Nana Agyemang Boateng (Gyataba) as chairman, he left the UFP to form the UPP in 2015.

Last week Mr Odike told Graphic Online that the signatories to the letter dismissing him were 'fraudsters' who were not known to the party but were just interested in 'destroying his name.'

'My brother, ask them to present their party identity cards and dues receipts before you give them any audience', Odike said.

The National Executive of the UPP claimed that after the elected General Secretary of the party, Mr Razak Opoku, left to join Mr Hassan Ayariga's newly formed All People Congress (APC) political party, Mr Odike unilaterally appointed his son, Francis Odike as his replacement.

'This is a flagrant violation of the manner and dictates of the party's constitution and tend to portray the UPP as a one man business full of people who are just pursuing their personal agenda of enriching themselves,' they said.

They also accused Mr Odike of changing the party's official letterhead and submitted same to the EC without recourse to any member of the NEC and also used the name of the party to solicit for funds from all manner of quarters without rending account to the party executive.

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