Claim: Social media users have claimed that the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has elected Captain Smart as the running mate for their flagbearer Nana Frimpomaa Kumankumah.
Verdict: False. Captain Smart has not been chosen as the running mate for Nana Frimpomaa Kumankumah, the flagbearer of the CPP.
Full Text:
Social media users have claimed that the Convention People’s Party (CPP) selected popular broadcast journalist Blessed Godsbrain Smart, widely known as Captain Smart, as their running mate for the 2024 general elections. This rumour has gained significant attention on platforms like Facebook, where a flyer featuring Captain Smart standing behind the party’s flagbearer, Nana Frimpomaa Kumankumah, is being circulated.
Source: Facebook. Viral image purporting Captain Smart has been selected as running mate for CPP.
Prominent users, including Caleb Nii Boye, and news outlets like modernghana.com have shared the flyer. The post has sparked mixed reactions, with some social media users expressing disapproval.
The CPP is not the only party yet to announce a running mate. Given this speculation, it is essential to investigate whether Captain Smart has indeed been chosen as the CPP’s running mate.
Verification
DUBAWA first reached out to Nana Frimpomaa Kumankumah, the flagbearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), to verify the claims regarding her running mate. In response to whether she had seen the flyer circulating and if the party had indeed selected its running mate, she firmly refuted the claims.
“No, the news is false. Captain Smart is not my running mate. I will soon announce who that will be,” she clarified.
DUBAWA also engaged the party’s executives to gather more insight on when the CPP intends to announce its running mate. This step is crucial, as parties are required to name their running mates before submitting nomination forms to the Electoral Commission ahead of elections.
In an interview with Joyce Larbi, Deputy Secretary of the CPP’s Independent Elections Committee, she also dismissed the rumors. “We have not yet finalized our choice for a running mate, and it is certainly not Captain Smart. However, we will be making an announcement soon.”
Regarding Captain Smart’s affiliation with the CPP, it is confirmed that he is a member. On January 19, 2023, CPP leaders officially introduced him at the party’s headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra. The party’s chairperson, Nana Akosua Frimpomaa, led the event, which she described as part of efforts to “reactivate the energies of prominent Ghanaians towards the Grand Mobilisation Drive.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rumor that Captain Smart has been selected as the CPP’s running mate for the 2024 elections is false. The CPP flagbearer, Nana Frimpomaa Kumankumah, and the party’s executives denied the claims, confirming that the party has not decided on a running mate yet and that an official announcement would be made soon.
