A business associate of Kennedy Ohene Agyapong of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. William Oppong Bio, has supported the presidential flagbearer hoepful's claim that he obtained a loan to finance the party's 1992 campaign.

Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, a candidate for the NPP flagbearership, disputed Kennedy Agyapong's assertion that he and his business partner obtained a $3 million loan to settle debts incurred by the NPP after the 1992 general elections.

But Mr. Oppong Bio, Kennedy Agyapong's partner and a witness, has spoken about the incident in an interview with Kumasi-based Sompa FM.

Agyapong (left), Kennedy Agyapong (right)

He mentioned that the loan was obtained through Cal Bank, which was then run by Fred Oware, who is now the chief of staff at the Office of the vice president's office.

“We paid the debt. When they went for the money and we lost the 1992 and 1996 elections, everyone ran away from it so we paid it; our company paid.

“The circumstances at the time caused our company to pay. Fred Oware, who is now at the vice president’s office, was the managing director at the time, and when they heard NPP had contracted a loan there, he had to hide it on our company account. That’s how it came about,” he said.

He added that the likes of Kwabena Agyepong may not have been privy to the matter because he was young at the time.

“It was what caused Fred Oware to lose his job and why Rawlings wanted to imprison him. It is a very big issue. At the time, some people were young and would not have known about it. Even today, does all of us know what is happening in the NPP?” he questioned.

Kennedy Agyapong, who is now the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, has been touring the country and engaging with delegates of the NPP ahead of the party’s upcoming primaries to elect a flagbearer.

In various interactions with the delegates, the MP has sought to highlight his contributions to the establishment and growth of the party, including financing its activities over the years.