Mahama: Akufo-Addo’s Defence Of Accused Appointees, Allies Dents Presidency

Former President John Dramani Mahama has taken a swipe at president Akufo-Addo for his “consistent” defence of his appointees and close allies against wrongdoing.

According to Mr Mahama, the action of the President is “unacceptable”.

“It is unacceptable that President Nana Akufo-Addo has consistently put pressure on state anti-corruption institutions by announcing clearance of appointees and companies that are under investigation for wrongdoing.”

This comes after President Akufo-Addo Defended Akonta Mining Limited, a company belonging to the Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, against any wrongdoing in its activities presently.

The mining company was accused last year of illegal mining in the Tano Nimiri forest reserve by the Minister for Lands and Natural resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor and is being subjected to investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

Speaking at the 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association in Koforidua on January 4, the President said “I want to assure you all that Akonta Mining is not engaged in any form of illegal mining anywhere in Ghana as we speak”.

Following this comment by the President, concerns were raised by stakeholders.

In a Facebook post, Mr Mahama said, “that penchant” by the president in the course of investigations into the operations of Akonta Mining Company is a “serious dent on the already deteriorating image of the Office of the President”.

“As though proud of that dishonourable badge, ‘the clearing agent’, Nana Akufo-Addo has yet again justified the appropriateness of his nickname with the seeming presidential exoneration of Akonta Mining, a company owned by a member of his political party (NPP) and accused of illegal gold mining in the country’s forest reserves.”

He continued, “Fortunately, and unfortunately, we are told by the owner of Akonta Mining that the Minister has explained to him they were forced to unwillingly act against his company because of public pressure from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), CSOs and NGOs. He also very alarmingly said the President called him ostensibly to appease him over Government’s action and that the Office of Special Prosecutor cannot touch him.”

“This is a sad commentary for a country that has in the past been held up in Africa as the poster boy for rule of law and democratic governance. This sad development also erodes the years of hard work, which have earned Ghana international appeal in climate change and sustainable development discourse globally.”

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini