Chairman of Abbosey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association, Joseph Paddy, has refuted claims that the group has apologised to former President John Dramani Mahama for voting against him in the 2016 elections.

Mr Paddy, who is also the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA) has, therefore, called on the general public to disregard stories claiming that they have apologised to Mr Mahama.

He told the media that the stories claiming the spare parts dealers had apologised to Mr Mahama, were being pushed by faceless propagandists.

He also said a group calling itself Concerned Spare Parts Dealers Association, to which the apology has been attributed, is non-existent.

The spokesperson for the Concerned Spare Parts Dealers Association, Takyi Addo, is reported to have told a Kumasi-based radio station that: “As a personal apology, wherever Mahama is, he should forgive us. I want him to also forgive me personally. We insulted him… we embarrassed him. We called him a thief, incompetent and all sort of names. We thought this one [Nana Akufo-Addo] was coming to help us, but he is rather finishing us”.

However, Mr Paddy said: “For us as traders and importers, we know government has not increased import duties, at least, since last year. There are obviously issues at the ports but it goes beyond government policy. There are individuals at the ports and customs officials who must be dealt with so that the good policies by government can yield the right results”.

He further assured the government of the group’s commitment toward working with officialdom to iron out any challenges confronting their industry.