Mugabe beats retreat; denies reports on NDC’s defeat in 2016 polls

Host of late afternoon political talk show [Pampaso] on Accra-based Montie Fm Salifu Maase popularly called Mugabe, has denied media reports he[Mugabe] warned the governing National Democratic Congress(NDC) of their imminent fall in the upcoming polls.

In a recent audio attributed to him[Mugabe] and reportedly recorded during his show on Wednesday, October 26, the political show host is heard panning government and leading members of the NDC for deserting Montie FM, the medium that propagates the government “good works”.

Mugabe was irked with the fact that Montie FM, TV Gold and others are running dry on Ads from government, yet other media outlets in the industry have been given the same competing slots of Ads to the disadvantage of the NDC affiliate stations.

According to Salifu Maase, who is one of the three convicted by the Supreme Court for contempt some three months ago, although he slammed the NDC government for abandoning key media houses aligned with the governing party, he never predicted doom for the NDC in the audio that went viral last week.

“There is nowhere in the tape where I stated that NDC/President John Mahama will lose the 2016 elections. And i didn’t cite anywhere in the tape that government should be lining my pocket with money or support me either. But the things that i said were for the betterment of Radio Gold, Montie FM and T.V Gold and nothing else.” Mugabe told host Fiifi Banson on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM.

Mugabe who along the line beat a retreat on his sentiments on the advertisement issue said his show is already overwhelmed with adverts, insisting that as huge as 27 sponsorship on his programme is enough to keep the show active and moving.

What he[Maase] said remained important to him, was to commit himself to promote the John Mahama administration and ensuring the second term bid of the NDC comes to fruition in the December polls.