Richard Manuribe, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) communication team, has urged Ghanaians to remain calm in the wake of a viral video that showed some party members swearing an oath of blood.
Speaking on Thursday’s Dwaso Nsem morning show on Adom FM, Mr. Manuribe revealed the ceremony happened in 2019.
He clarified that although the content had been misreported and misunderstood, it was actually a swearing-in ceremony for recently appointed Directors of Election.
“The NDC is aware about the video because the party made the arrangement. I was there and part of the people sworn in but it is never true there was any pledge to sacrifice our lives and that of our first borns.
“It was an oath of allegiance and secrecy. Afriyie-Ankrah is not the Director of Elections now. It is Dr Omane-Boamah so how can someone tell me it is a current video,” he stated.
NDC leaders took the secret oath of secrecy while standing on a white cloth during a meeting that was reportedly attended by party members.
A man wearing a white kaftan and a long chain and sword was the one giving the oath.
Holding a sword, each member uttered solemn vows promising to kill themselves and their firstborn children if they betrayed their party in the elections in order to gain financial advantage.
Widespread shock and disbelief have been triggered by the video that shows high-ranking party officials like Daniel Amartey Mensah, the former deputy director of elections and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Ledzokuku-Municipal Assembly (LEKMA), and Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, the former director of elections.
However, Mr. Manuribe asserted that the widely shared video is an intentional attempt to deflect focus away from important national concerns.
“That part of the video has been doctored. Someone for whatever reason did not record an audio and sync it with the video.
“Why will he swear by blood and our first born? Afriyie Ankrah for instance is a committed Christian and will not do any such thing. All we did was to swear allegiance to the job,” he insisted.
