Claim: Viral Video Misrepresents Kwaku Manu as Supporting NPP
**Verdict:** Misleading. The voice-over attributed to actor Kwaku Manu in the video was not original; it was taken from a skit and superimposed onto the footage, potentially misrepresenting the party’s campaign message.
Body
A video circulating on social media, shared by users such as BK DESTINY and Aba.the.great, shows a campaign truck adorned with the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) colors and logos, featuring a megaphone broadcasting a voice-over that allegedly comes from actor Kwaku Manu. Posted on November 22, 2024, the video has garnered over 400 likes and 80 comments, igniting considerable debate online.
While some users dismissed the authenticity of the video, arguing that the NPP would not engage in such messaging, others speculated that it might have been manipulated by members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to damage the NPP’s reputation.
CitiVerify analyzed the voice-over, which translates to: “We have got what we need in government already. We do not need to beg for your votes. We have already won the elections. If you will not vote for us, we will simply rig the elections.” If true, this message would depict the NPP as indifferent and disrespectful in their campaign approach.
As the elections approach, celebrity endorsements significantly influence public opinion. Misrepresenting Kwaku Manu as a supporter of the NPP could adversely affect the party's image. To verify the video's authenticity, CitiVerify undertook a thorough investigation.
Verification
CitiVerify began by examining the video posted by BK Destiny on TikTok, where the original audio was attributed to a user named “Kwaku Manu Bob.” A review confirmed that this account belongs to the verified TikTok profile of Kwaku Manu.
The audio originated from an earlier video featuring Kwaku Manu wearing a blue, white, and red T-shirt with "DPP" on the back, where he delivered the same message heard in the viral clip.
CitiVerify noted that the colors of Kwaku Manu’s T-shirt could easily lead viewers to mistakenly associate him with the NPP, given those are the party's official colors.
Further investigation using InVID and Google reverse image search revealed additional videos shared by users aiming to debunk claims that Kwaku Manu was endorsing the NPP.
These sources clarified that Kwaku Manu’s video was part of a comedic skit created in anticipation of the elections.
Moreover, CitiVerify found a related video featuring actor Jeneral Ntatia, who delivers a similar message while wearing a shirt labeled "CPM," indicating his affiliation with another political party. This video was posted on Jeneral Ntatia’s official TikTok account with the caption: “The Campaign continues. We bring you better policies that will help you. #BeyondTheBallotMovie.” A subsequent search on the hashtag revealed more videos of individuals wearing similar T-shirts with the DPP inscription.
CitiVerify concluded that all videos featuring Kwaku Manu and Jeneral Ntatia are comedic skits related to the elections and do not represent genuine political endorsements or campaign material.
Despite the clarification, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, publicly cautioned Kwaku Manu. He advised the actor to avoid actions that might be misinterpreted as misconduct while wearing the colors associated with the NPP. This warning has been reported by several news outlets, underscoring the sensitivity of the issue during the election season.
Conclusion
The viral video featuring Kwaku Manu was misleadingly altered to suggest he was campaigning for the NPP using derogatory language, when in fact it originated from a comedic skit created ahead of the elections.
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