NPP Vetting Under Pressure:Karen Bortey Petitions Committee Over Alleged $30,000 Debt by Dr. China

NPP Vetting Under Pressure:Karen Bortey Petitions Committee Over Alleged $30,000 Debt by Dr. China

NPP-USA member demands independent probe into financial obligations,alleged misrepresentations and conduct of General Secretary aspirant

By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie,Kumasi

The vetting process for aspirants seeking national executive positions of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) has taken a dramatic turn following a formal petition filed by Karen Bortey,a member of the NPP-USA Branch,against General Secretary aspirant Dr. Charles Dwamena, popularly known as Dr. China.

In a petition dated August 25,2026 and addressed to the Chairperson and members of the NPP National Vetting Committee,Ms. Bortey is calling for an impartial investigation into what she describes as unresolved financial obligations,alleged misrepresentations and other matters arising from her personal,financial and political involvement with Dr. Dwamena.

At the centre of the petition is an alleged US$30,000 outstanding debt,which Ms. Bortey says Dr. Dwamena incurred after requesting financial assistance ahead of the 2022 NPP national executive elections.

She further claims that her overall financial exposure and campaign-related expenditure connected to Dr. Dwamena exceeded US$50,000.

According to her petition,however,the matter goes beyond a simple private financial disagreement.

She argues that the issues are potentially relevant to questions of credibility,integrity, judgment,financial responsibility and suitability for political leadership.

Claims $30,000 came from retirement savings
Ms.Bortey says one of the most significant sacrifices she made was the withdrawal of approximately US$30,000 from her 401(k) retirement savings in 2022.

She alleges that the withdrawal came with taxes and penalties but was nevertheless made because of her commitment to the political cause and circumstances surrounding her support for Dr. Dwamena.

She maintains that she has documentary evidence to substantiate the transactions and expenditures and is prepared to submit the records to the Vetting Committee.

Alleges written repayment arrangement
A key component of the petition is an alleged written agreement concerning repayment.
Ms. Bortey claims that there were subsequent discussions,partial payments and attempts to reach a final settlement,but that the financial obligations remain unresolved.

She has therefore urged the Committee to examine bank records,payment receipts,written agreements,electronic communications and other documentary evidence rather than relying on competing verbal accounts.

Four-year attempt at private settlement

The petitioner says she deliberately refrained from taking the matter to the NPP for approximately four years because she initially believed the dispute could be resolved privately.

She claims to have made repeated efforts to secure repayment and clarification while avoiding unnecessary political and reputational damage to Dr. Dwamena.

According to her,the decision to petition the Vetting Committee came only after those attempts allegedly failed to produce a satisfactory resolution.

Raises questions about alleged personal representations

Ms. Bortey has also raised allegations concerning representations Dr. Dwamena allegedly made to her about his marital status and personal circumstances.
She stresses that her concern is not Dr. Dwamena’s private life in itself, but what she describes as alleged deception and the possibility that she relied on those representations while providing substantial financial, personal, logistical and political support.

She is asking the Committee to determine whether any such representations were knowingly false and, if established,whether they have relevance to the broader questions of credibility,integrity and judgment.

Calls for evidence-based vetting

The NPP-USA member has made it clear that she is not asking the Vetting Committee to accept her allegations without scrutiny.
Instead,she wants both parties to be given an opportunity to present their cases and for the Committee to independently examine the evidence.

Among other things,she is requesting that the Committee:
formally receive and record her petition;
allow Dr. Dwamena to respond;
examine financial records and the alleged repayment agreement;
review relevant communications and supporting documents;
hear relevant witnesses where necessary;
investigate the alleged personal representations;
identify and address any potential conflict of interest; and
determine whether the issues raised are material to Dr. Dwamena’s vetting.

Petitioner distances case from Kodua speculation
Ms. Bortey has also sought to distance her petition from speculation that the matter could have been politically orchestrated.

She acknowledges that some individuals have speculated about possible involvement by NPP General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua, but says she is not presenting such speculation as fact.

She claims Mr. Kodua told her that the timing was not appropriate for him to engage Dr. Dwamena because his own name could be “smeared in the mud.”
Ms. Bortey says she is leaving it to the appropriate Party authorities to determine whether any party official had any involvement in the circumstances surrounding her complaint.
Demands protection of vetting process
The petitioner says her objective is accountability rather than retaliation.
She argues that aspirants seeking important leadership positions within the NPP should be subjected to appropriate scrutiny, while complainants should also be given a fair opportunity to present legitimate concerns.

“I am not asking the Committee to take sides. I am asking the Committee to seek the truth,” she states in the petition.

She has also requested that relevant financial documents, communications and other evidence be preserved to ensure that any determination is based on the most complete evidentiary record available.

Dr. China yet to respond

The allegations contained in the petition remain allegations and have not been independently established in the material presented.

Dr. Charles Dwamena, popularly known as Dr. China, should therefore be given an opportunity to respond to the claims and present his own evidence and account of the circumstances.

The petition itself acknowledges this principle by expressly asking the NPP Vetting Committee to give Dr. Dwamena a full and fair opportunity to respond.

Ms. Bortey has concluded by pledging to cooperate with any investigation and provide original documents, financial records, communications and other evidence in her possession.

She is also requesting written acknowledgment of the petition and notification of the Committee’s decision or the next procedural step.

The development adds another layer of scrutiny to the NPP’s internal electoral process as the party prepares to assess aspirants for key national executive positions.