Asenso Boakye Demands Captain Smart Retract, Apologise Over “False Claim”

Member of Parliament for Bantama and Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso Boakye has demanded a retraction and apology from broadcaster Captain Smart over “false claims”.

The host of Morning Show Maakye, Captain Smart, is reported to have alleged that Asenso Boakye interfered and hindered the transfer of Mr Adubufuor, a Customs Officer stationed at the Tema Port after a Disciplinary Committee had made that recommendation.

Narrating his involvement in the incident, Asenso Boakye said it happened in 2018 before he became MP, while he held the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff of the President.

He recounted that he received a call from some of his constituents who informed him about the transfer of Mr Adubufuor.

He noted that the constituents felt the transfer “unfairly targeted the dutiful performance of his function as customs officer”.

The lawmaker, therefore “called the then Customs Boss to ascertain the veracity of the claim. He denied any such transfer was being considered. I conveyed this feedback to the elders and took no further interest in the matter.

“At no time in the course of my conversation with the Customs Boss or Captain Smart was I made aware of any disciplinary committee recommendation to transfer Mr Adubofuor as was stated by Captain Smart on his TV programme. “

Asenso Boakye holds that he never “exerted undue influence on the Customs Boss to maintain Mr Adubofour, an authority I simply did not have, even if, indeed, he was to be transferred”.

“In light of the above, I have instructed my lawyers to write to Captain Smart demanding a retraction and an apology. I trust this will be done with dispatch and given equal prominence as with the false assertion made on his show”, he said.

Below is the full statement:

I have had the opportunity to watch a video in which Captain Smart mentioned my name on the “Maakye” morning show on Accra-based Onua TV, in relation to a matter concerning a Ghanaian firm, Labianca Company Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and further alleged that I interfered in the transfer of one Mr. Adubufour, a Customs officer stationed at the Tema Harbour, despite a recommendation made by a disciplinary committee.
It is deeply regrettable that he chose to misrepresent the facts in a vile attempt to besmirch my hard won reputation. The claims made by Captain Smart are false and without merit, and as a journalist, I was expecting him to conduct his work with the highest standard of integrity and truthfulness, much as is expected of all public servants and anyone seeking to promote good governance in the national interest.
I take the liberty to reproduce the facts as faithfully conveyed to him when we last spoke on this matter as follows:
​1.​ Sometime in 2018, as deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, I received a phone call from some elders of my local community, Bantama, informing me of a proposed transfer of Mr. Adubufour, who felt was unfairly targeted for the dutiful performance of his functions as a Customs officer.
​2.​ I called the then Customs Boss to ascertain the veracity of the claim. He denied any such transfer was being considered.
​3.​ I conveyed this feedback to the elders and took no further interest in the matter.
At no time in the course of my conversation with the Customs Boss or Captain Smart was I made aware of any disciplinary committee recommendation to transfer Mr. Adubofuor as was stated on by Captain Smart on his TV programme. Neither, did I exert any undue influence on the Customs Boss to maintain Mr. Adubofour, an authority I simply did not have, even if, indeed, he was to be transferred.
In light of the above, I have instructed my lawyers to write to Captain Smart demanding a retraction and an apology. I trust this will be done with dispatch and given equal prominence as with the false assertion made on his show.
At all times in the discharge of my duties to our beloved country, I have operated with the highest standards of ethics and integrity and in full compliance with the law.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini