The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Western Regional Secretary Charles Bissue has denied instigating a brawl which reportedly left him with an eye contusion and swellings on his face.

Mr Bissue who doubles as a presidential staffer reportedly got into a scrap with the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem in the Western Region, George Mireku Duker on Monday at a meeting which had NPP national campaign manager, Peter Mac Manu and Director of Operations at the Presidency, Lord Commey present.

Bissue’s opponent told the Daily Guide in an interview that the presidential staffer was the aggressor by throwing the first punch and later biting his fingers.

However, Mr Bissue in a statement issued today said he neither physically attacked nor bit the finger of the MP.

“The reportage is a gross misrepresentation of what transpired at the Party’s meeting on Monday, I wish to assure all that I neither physically attacked nor bit the finger of the MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, Hon. Mireku Duker as widely reported,” Mr Bissue said in a statement posted on his Facebook wall.

“I was not the aggressor in this situation, as it is not in my nature, as anyone who knows me could attest”.

He also maintained that publicizing his version of the scuffle would distract from the NPP’s re-election efforts.

Instead, Mr Bissue has assured that he would resort to the Party structures to resolve the issue.

“I am by this medium assuring all and sundry that, I will rather resort to the structures in the NPP to resolve this matter amicably. Much as I would like to publicize my side of the unfortunate incident, I am guided by the fact that the NPP has an election to prosecute and anything that distracts from the telling of the unparalleled achievements of this government will be a great disservice to the country and the Party that I have faithfully served. I am guided, as always, not by self-interest but by greater ideals and loyalties, and a firm belief that justice serves those who serve others, and that truth and honesty always prevails”.

Read Bissue’s entire statement below;

*STATEMENT*
In response to the outrageously false allegations printed in Today(Wednesday)’s edition of The Daily Dispatch newspaper entitled ‘NPP Regional Secretary bites NPP MP, blood flows’ and Daily Guide newspaper entitled ‘NPP Gurus Trade Blows’ as well as earlier news articles from other online portals which began on Monday, 21 September, 2020, I write to debunk those News Articles.
The reportage is a gross misrepresentation of what transpired at the Party’s meeting on Monday, I wish to assure all that I neither physically attacked nor bit the finger of the MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, Hon. Mireku Duker as widely reported. I was not the aggressor in this situation, as it is not in my nature, as anyone who knows me could attest.
I am by this medium assuring all and sundry that, I will rather resort to the structures in the NPP to resolve this matter amicably. Much as I would like to publicize my side of the unfortunate incident, I am guided by the fact that the NPP has an election to prosecute and anything that distracts from the telling of the unparalleled achievements of this government will be a great disservice to the country and the Party that I have faithfully served. I am guided, as always, not by self-interest but by greater ideals and loyalties, and a firm belief that justice serves those who serve others, and that truth and honesty always prevails.

The NPP’s Constitution, Article 3, Sections 5A, 1-5 (Duties of a member) stipulates that:
5. A member shall have the right and duty at all times to:
i. promote and defend the good name of the Party;
ii. protect the unity of the Party;
iii. be loyal and truthful to the Party;
iv. abide by and publicly uphold the decisions of the Party;
v. carry out his or her duties faithfully and with honesty to the best of his or her ability.
In accordance with the stated articles of the NPP Constitution, I’ll allow the party structures to handle the matter accordingly, and I will continue to focus on my work for our party and for our great country, undeterred and with conviction.
In deference to the eminent people who constitute the Grievance and Disciplinary Committee, I will not be issuing any further statement and I trust in the unflinching resolve of the Party to act expeditiously and fairly to all parties involved.
Thank you.
Charles Cromwell Nanabanyin Onuawonto Bissue
Western Regional Secretary