The New Patriotic Party (NPP) communication team member in the Eastern region, Mr Edmond Aboaagye praised his President, Akufo-Addo over his corruption response to his critics; and slammed the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), saying its is looking for a corruption course-mate.
President Akufo – Addo at the Ghana Bar Association 2019 Conference in Takoradi on Monday, refuted the assertions of clearing corruption appointees.
“It is not my job to clear or convict any person accused of wrongdoing, or of engaging in acts of corruption. My job is to act on allegations of corruption by referring the issue or issues to the proper investigative agencies for the relevant enquiry and necessary action. That is exactly what has been done since I assumed the mantle of leadership on 7th January 2017. If an appointee is cleared of any wrongdoing, the evidence adduced and recommendations made by these agencies, after the investigations are concluded, are what clear the accused persons, not myself. None of these agencies has ever indicated any pressure from the Executive over the investigations”, he said.
Mr. Aboagye in a political radio debate with the NDC constituency chairperson for Lower Manya, Hon. David Walter on Rite FM said, the major opposition NDC are corrupt and have been looking for soulmates to hang it with the corruption tag, through shouting and false accusations.
“The NDC is very corrupt, so they thought by shouting and accusing the NPP of corruption they recruit them into their dubious act. I am happy the president stated emphatically that every corruption allegation against his appointees, he referred it to the independent bodies for investigation.”
Adding, “I wouldn’t say Akuffo Addo’s appointees are angels, but when there is an alleged corruption against them, the way and manner he act is clear evidence that he is committed in fighting against corruption,” Mr Aboagye stressed.
Listing the allegations of corruption levelled against his appointees, the President indicated that, every single alleged act of corruption is being or has been investigated by independent bodies, such as CHRAJ, the CID, and, in some cases, by Parliament itself.
“From the allegations against the then Minister-Designate for Energy at his parliamentary confirmation hearings; to that against the former CEO of BOST; to those against the two deputy Chiefs of Staff; to the conflict of interest allegations against the Minister for Finance; to the claims of extortion against the Trade and Industry Minister; to allegations of doubling in visa racketeering against the then deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, the then Director-General of the National Sports Authority, who, even though exonerated by the CID, later resigned, and the Chairperson of the Board of the National Sports Authority; to the allegations of bribery levelled against the Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining; to the latest involving the suspended acting CEO of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) and the dismissed CEO of the National Youth Authority – they have all been investigated or are being investigated by the authorised institutions of our state, and not by President Akufo-Addo,” he emphasized.
The President also indicated that the agencies do their work without any pressure and interference from his office.
“None of these agencies has ever indicated any pressure from the Executive over their investigations,” President Akufo Addo said.
But in a rebutal, the Lower Manya Krobo Constituency Chairperson of the NDC, Hon. David Walter Yaw Humernu said he is happy, his colleague, Mr Aboagye said taking someone to court doesn’t mean the person is guilty.
He has however, asked the president to remain calm since his pronouncement of 21 NDC officials being summoned before the Special Prosecutor for investigations does not prove them guilty of the allegations levelled against them.
Mr. Walter Humernu has accused the president and his vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as corrupt.
“The president and his vice are not speaking like they spoke before election 2016, about corruption issues because they now realized they are more corrupt,” He told Kenneth Oliver on Asem Yi Di Ka.
This corruption allegation Mr. Walter David Humernu said, started from the day the president was sworn in: “he stole different country speech, there was another allegations against him, such as cash for the seat,” he jabs.
Hon Walter said, “the NPP lied to gain power, still lying and lies will take them out of power 2020.”
Source: ritefmonline.org/Akosua Mavis Atteh
