The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Suaman Constituency in the Western North Region, Honorable Joseph Bertino, has vehemently refuted claims suggesting that he refused to sponsor the much-needed mock examinations for local students, instead allocating resources towards a goat football gala competition for the ethic groups at Dadieso.
According to him, these claims, purportedly being spread by some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the area on social media and other platforms, aim to tarnish his reputation and that of his family.
In response to the allegations, Honourable Bertino categorically denied ever sponsoring such football event, emphasizing that the assertions are baseless and intended to incite public disdain towards him.
“I know that traditional rulers at Dadieso didn’t accept the goats and dogs in the area so if l have sponsored the event l would rather give the the two winners of Fanfra and Nzema ethic groups sets of jerseys and footballs,” the MP stated.
He was responding to the allegations by the NPP members that the MP has refused to sponsor the much-needed mock examinations for local students, instead allocating resources towards a goat gala competition.
In the report, the NPP noted that the decision has sparked widespread outrage, as it not only neglects the educational needs of the teeming youth but also disrespects the cultural values of Suaman land.
The mock examinations are a critical component of our students’ academic journey, providing essential preparation for their final exams.
By denying sponsorship for these district mock exams, the MP has undermined the future prospects of our students, putting their academic success and future opportunities at risk.
Adding to the controversy, the statement noted that the MP’s decision to fund a goat gala competition is seen as a direct affront to the cultural traditions of Suaman. According to local customs, such activities involving goats are considered taboo and are strictly prohibited.
The NPP asserted that this blatant disregard for our cultural values has deeply hurt and offended the community.
“We, the NPP and concerned citizens of Suaman, demand immediate accountability and action from our MP. It is imperative that our elected representatives prioritize the educational needs of our youth and respect the cultural heritage of our land…
“We call on the MP to allocate the funds towards sponsoring the mock examinations for our students, publicly apologize to the community for the cultural insensitivity displayed by organizing the goat gala competition, and engage in a constructive dialogue with community leaders to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.
“Our community deserves leadership that is responsive to our needs and respectful of our traditions. We urge all concerned citizens to join us in voicing our concerns and advocating for the betterment of our community,” the NPP’s anger was contained in a press statement signed and issued by the Suaman Constituency Secretary of the NPP, Mr. Afoakwa Luckson Kwame, and copied to Soireenews.com in Accra.
Reacting to the allegations, the MP flatly denied all the allegations levelled against him by the members of the NPP, saying that it is true that he has rejected the sponsorship of mock examinations for the local students.
He affirmed that he sponsored mock examination for final year students at the junior high school which has commenced on Friday 14th June 2024, across all junior high schools in the constituency.
He maintained that sponsored a mock examination since almost three years he represented the people in Parliament
to help prepare candidates for their final Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) as part of his commitment to supporting the students and ensuring their success.
He noted that evidence of the record from the Ghana Education Service Directorate of the District Assembly showed that “l have used my personal money to sponsor the the mock examinations of this final-year candidates of the public schools in the constituency who will be writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination.
The MP noted that his contribution to the education development of the local students in the constituency is unprecedented, adding that he used his personal money to sponsor vacation classes for the form one students who are at home in the area.
“These records are in Ghana Education Service Directorate of the District Assembly, so l dare these members of the NPP who making these unfounded allegations should check from the education directorate of the Assembly,” the MP stressed.
On the allegations of him sponsoring goat gala competition, the MP stressed that he has no hand in the sponsorship of the event m
“l never sponsored a goat gala competition. However being the MP of the area l was at the meeting when l have the called that the youth football teams had finished playing football gala competition and they wanted me to come to talk to the youths.”
“So l quickly went there with my constituency Secretary and that when l went there, they had event finished the gala competition and that the spectators of the event had even left the venue and only two groups who were there. So to talk to them. And after taking to them, they brought out the goat to be presented to the winner of competition.
“I didn’t even know that there is a goat that the orginasers are using to reward the best winner of the competition. “I even resisted and asked why goat they will used to reward the winner since they know that in Dadieso Town, traditional rulers didn’t accept goat and dogs in the area. And that they even organizers they had already brought the goat for me to be presented to the winner.
“And l did the presentation but l didn’t sponsor the programme,l just being brought in as a key stakesholder to talk to the spectators and those who participated the event. I think that the organizers did orginsed the programme for all the ethic groups at Dadieso,” the MP clarified.
The MP asserted that the dissemination of such false information is a deliberate attempt to undermine his credibility and integrity.
Speaking in an interview with Soireenews. com, the MP urged the public to disregard the unfounded claims, reaffirming his stance that he has never been sponsored such programme.
Additionally, he clarified that she has never neglected sponsoring the mock examinations of the year local students, refuting another aspect of the misinformation campaign targeting him
“Disregard the propaganda and falsehood being peddled by the dishonest NPP apparatchiks that I have sponsored the goat gala competition for the ethic group at Dadieso.”
“Let me state without any fear of equivocation or contradiction that I have never refused to sponsor any educational development programmes of the local students,” the MP fired back.