Donation turns sour as NPP PC aspirant allegedly use thugs to seize vehicle after defeat

A storm of controversy has erupted in the Oforikrom Constituency of the Ashanti region. Claudia Lumor, a former parliamentary candidate aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), stands accused of a brazen act: forcefully reclaiming a campaign pickup she had donated, allegedly deploying thugs to do her bidding.

The scene of the alleged crime is the residence of Oforikrom Constituency Chairman, Anthony Amankwa. Sources say Ms. Lumor sent a group of men, including her driver, Kwadwo Manu to strong-arm him into surrendering the branded pickup truck. This vehicle, once a symbol of the NPP campaign, was temporarily sheltered at the chairman’s home while the party office underwent repairs.

This wasn’t some clandestine affair. The initial donation was a spectacle, witnessed by a host of constituents, party brass, and respected elders, its details splashed across various media outlets.

However, ever since the NPP’s defeat in the recent 2024 elections, sources report that Ms. Lumor’s demands for the vehicle’s return have intensified. Mr. Amankwa, feeling the weight of the original agreement, hesitated, insisting that the vehicle was a gift, not a temporary loan, a sentiment that should be discussed within party ranks.

An audio recording, now in the hands of this reporter, reveals the depth of the conflict. In it, Mr. Amankwa recounts how Ms. Lumor, via Kwadwo Manu, had demanded the pickup, claiming it needed a mere “rebranding.” Mr. Amankwa, feeling betrayed by such a sudden change of plans, and holding the memory of the public donation, refused to release the vehicle without consulting other stakeholders.

He further explains the mounting pressure from Ms. Lumor, detailing personal calls from her in which she demanded the vehicle’s immediate return, recalling how their recent call ended abruptly from her end, due to anger.  Adding to the drama, the chairman’s voice recording reveals that Wontumi’s aide, Andy, also entered the fray to negotiate the car’s return, but Mr. Amankwa stood his ground, reiterating the need for a collective decision within the party.

“This morning, Kwadwo Manu, together with other machomen, one of whom they claimed was Claudia’s brother, descended upon my house to seize the vehicle. The menace in their demeanor forced my hand. I felt vulnerable, and my family’s safety became my only priority.” He stressed he had no prior notification.

In a phone call to this reporter, a weary-sounding Chairman Amankwa confirmed the ordeal, stating the incident occurred around midday on Tuesday, January 1, 2025, while he was still recovering from a tiring all-night service the night before.

“Until this,” the chairman confessed, “I held no personal grudge against Ms. Lumor. Still, she had been ignoring my calls.”

He continued, painting a picture of strained relations. “Even before the pickup donation, she’d instructed the Constituency Organizer to be her messenger.”  During my attempt to bring about reconciliation after the internal elections, she continued to ignore me, failing to attend any meeting. And yet, I welcomed her with open arms at the donation, with the party leaders and pressmen present.”

Regarding the vehicle’s location, the chairman shared it had initially been under the care of another constituency organizer before he brought it to his residence. The party office, he explained, was too exposed, deemed a “less-than-safe place” for the vehicle.

“I handed the car over in fear,” he said. “They had seemingly materialized in my home. I was left wondering how they had bypassed my locked gate”. He added, with relief, adding that neither he nor his family had suffered any physical harm.

A video showing the pickup, now seized, being driven away by Kwadwo Manu and the other men is in the possession of this story.

The audio recording of the chairman’s own words alongside a video of the vehicle being taken has also been provided.