Jerry Ahmed denies Bawumia resignation claim, demands retraction

The Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe, Hon. Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has denied claims circulating online that he threatened to resign his parliamentary seat if Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is elected as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer.

A viral report attributed to him and published on an online platform, opr.news, carried the headline:
I Dare My NPP—I’ll Sell My Seat If Bawumia Is Mistakenly Elected as Flagbearer.”

In a statement issued from Parliament House on Monday, Mr. Shaib described the publication as “entirely false, malicious, and clearly intended to mislead the public and sow division within the New Patriotic Party.”

“I categorically deny ever making such a statement. I have not granted any interview—formal or informal—expressing such views,” the MP said.

He further labelled the publication as an example of “irresponsible journalism” and called on Ghanaians to treat it with the “utter contempt it deserves.”

Legal Threat

The Weija-Gbawe MP is demanding an immediate retraction of the story, an unqualified public apology, and a complete cessation of its circulation.

“Failure to comply will leave me with no choice but to pursue legal action to protect my name, integrity, and the dignity of the office I hold,” he warned.

According to him, the media outlet behind the report failed to provide basic facts, such as when or where the alleged interview took place—adding further weight to his claims that the story is fictitious.

Background

The publication comes at a time when conversations within the NPP are intensifying over who leads the party into the 2028 general elections. Vice President Bawumia, who led the NPP into the 2024 polls, remains a key figure in those discussions.

But the NPP has not officially opened nominations for its next flagbearership contest, making the alleged statement even more contentious and out of place.

Political observers have raised concerns in recent months over a spike in online misinformation targeted at high-ranking political figures. Some see it as a tactic to manipulate internal party politics and damage reputations ahead of anticipated leadership contests.

“I remain committed to serving the people of Weija-Gbawe and to promoting unity within the NPP,” the statement concluded.