John Mahama, the former president, has denied any involvement in the attack on the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s convoy in Techiman.
He made the statement after an incident where some unidentified youngsters threw stones at the Asantehene’s motorcade in Techiman on Monday, December 2, 2024.
Police say the alleged incident happened while the Asantehene was on her way back from a burial in the Bono East Region’s Nkoranza.
Speaking at a visit to the Asantehene, however, John Mahama rejected the widely circulated video as “fake news” and artificial intelligence (AI) produced.
He said it was a conscious effort to damage his reputation and that of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mr. Mahama explained that there was no truth to the rumours that he had organised young people in Techiman to attack Otumfuo’s vehicle.
He recalled that Otumfuo told him that he was going to a funeral in Nkoranza and that he had prayed for God’s protection while travelling.
“However, when I woke up, they said I had gone to gather some youth in Techiman to hurl stones at Otumfuo’s convoy,” he said.
The video that went viral on social media and allegedly showed his voice and image uttering false things was rejected by the NDC flagbearer.
He said the video was coordinated by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and accused some staff at the Presidency (Jubilee House) of being behind it.
“All these, the seat of government knows about. They have departments whose sole purpose is to create and post such fake news on social media.”
Mahama blamed the NPP’s difficulties in the present election season for the purported slander campaign.
“It is because their campaign has lost steam that they are resorting to this. Nana, all these are untrue,” he said.