The Director of Communication for the Bawumia Campaign Team, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has addressed the payments made to journalists who attended the #BawumiaHostsTheMedia event on August 25, 2024.
He confirmed that journalists were given amounts between GH¢2,000 and GH¢5,000 to support their participation and ensure their comfort during the event.
In a discussion with Fact-Check Ghana, Aboagye refuted rumors circulating on social media that suggested payments ranging from GH¢10,000 to GH¢20,000 were made to journalists and media houses.
He emphasized that the actual payments were significantly lower and were intended solely to facilitate the event’s coverage.
“I haven’t given any GH¢20,000 or GH¢10,000 to any media house. The highest amount of money any media person received was between GH¢ 2,000 and GH¢ 5,000. They are all not the same, some were even bloggers,” he said.
Mr Aboagye explained that journalists from outside Accra received funds to cover transportation and accommodation expenses, countering allegations of bribery.
“Take someone who came from Kumasi or Tamale, for instance, if you give them GH¢5,000 or GH¢7,000 then you [must] add their accommodation and transport to ensure you have covered them,” he added.
Mr Aboagye’s comments address recent social media speculations following the NPP flagbearer’s media interaction.
Meanwhile, Fact-Check Ghana has received confirmations from some journalists that they were paid substantial amounts between GH¢10,000 and GH¢20,000 after the event.