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Claim: An X user, @fanti_boy, tweeted that KNUST’s Tertiary Students Confederacy of New Patriotic Party (TESCON) branch has endorsed the opposition leader’s 24-hour economy policy.
Verdict: False. DUBAWA’s checks reveal that the group has not endorsed the policy in any way.
Full Text
In the lead-up to Ghana’s 2024 elections, many party leaders are conducting campaigns to promote their ideologies and policies to their supporters nationwide and seek their support.
One such policy is the 24-hour economic policy, which has quickly become one of the poster ideas of John Mahama, flag bearer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Supporters and party members of the NDC have received the policy well and are running with it.
On the other hand, it has been heavily criticised as unrealistic by some New Patriotic Party members (NPP) members.
An X user, @fanti_boy, posted an alleged press statement by TESCON KNUST endorsing the prominent opposition leader’s 24-hour economy policy.
“Tescon KNUST has endorsed Mahama’s 24-hour economy. Read their letter below as to why they endorse the policy,” the post was captioned.
As of July 2, 2024, when this report was filed, the post had garnered 41,800 views, 108 reposts, and 325 likes.
DUBAWA decided to investigate this claim because the post was controversial, in addition to the fact that TESCON is the student wing of the NPP.
Verification
TESCON is an acronym for the Tertiary Students Confederacy. It is the students’ wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Founded in 2000, TESCON has branches in almost all major tertiary institutions in the country.
To verify this claim, DUBAWA observed that executives of TESCON KNUST have disputed the reports or press releases that are making rounds.
On June 21, 2024, DUBAWA found a post on Tescon KNUST’s official Facebook page disclaiming and distancing themselves from the press release.
“Is a fictitious statement and a blatant lie as well,” the post stated.
Also, the group issued a counter-press release to dissociate themselves from the viral statement on X. Find the statement here.
“Statement on the fake endorsement letter,” the X post was captioned.
A press statement by the executives. Image Source: Tescon KNUST X Page
Also, DUBAWA contacted Cornelia Yeboah-Kodie, TESCON KNUST secretary and the signatory to the viral press statement, to ascertain whether she signed and issued the statement.
“It is very fake. We are planning to respond to it at a press conference. We are committed to our flag bearer (Dr Bawumia),” she said.
Further, considering that TESCON is the student wing of the ruling NPP on various campus tertiary institutions, a statement supporting the opposition’s policy would have attracted attention from several credible media outlets in Ghana.
However, after conducting a keyword search on Google, DUBAWA found no publication by any major media outlet on the issue.
Conclusion
The claim that TESCON KNUST issued a press statement supporting the opposition NDC’s 24-hour economy policy is false.
