Prez Daughter Denies Receiving $25M Contracts To Paint Accra; Heads to Court

Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, a daughter of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be seeking redress over allegations levelled against her to the effect that she received contracts sum of $25 million to paint parts of the country’s capital.

In a statement, Gyankroma who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Creative Arts Agency denied the allegation noting it was an attempt to undermine her credibility.

She described the publication as “falsehoods and baseless lies” fabricated and being propagated by some “shameless persons”.

The news was published by Loud Silence News, a news website owned by US-based Ghanaian journalist Kelvin Taylor- a critic of the incumbent government of Ghana.

The publication by Loud Silence News did not just make allegations against Gyankroma but all daughters of the President.

For Gyankroma, it said 25 million dollar worth of contracts had been awarded to her to paint parts of Accra. The products of the contract, it said, were visible at some interchange and public infrastructures.

But Gyankroma denies that the paintings- which were conceived to serve as beautiful backdrops for videos, or photoshoots and be a tourist attraction- were done through the award of a contract.

She explained the paintings were done through fundraising activities undertaken by the Creative Arts Agency.

“For the avoidance of any doubt, it is important to state that these projects were solely conceived, managed, and financially undertaken by The Creative Arts Agency, through its own fundraising activities.”

According to her, paintings at the Ako Adjei, Tetteh Quarshie, and site 3 were funded by the private sector, herself and Ben Asante, CEO of Ghana Gas respectively.

Gyankroma is not determined to let this allegation go. She says she has instructed her lawyers to seek redress.

“All efforts to undermine my credibility through the publication of these falsehoods and baseless lies will not wash. I have instructed my lawyer to seek redress in the law courts against persons and media houses that published these falsehoods with the sole intention of destroying my reputation.”

Below Is Her Full Statement:
CREATIVE ARTS AGENCY
In August 2018, Art for All was conceived. Its purpose was to beautify our capital city of Accra, to give a platform to our Ghanaian artists, to build art appreciation for its audience, and to serve as beautiful backdrops for videos, or photoshoots and be a tourist attraction.
Each site had a six-week workshop process to identify themes, locations, and artists. Each site was paid for with funds largely from the private sector, sourced solely by the Creative Arts Agency. No contract to paint a succession of bridges or underpasses has either been conceived, has ever been offered, or has ever been accepted. Indeed, any tender or contract awarded for such a project would have been made public.
For the avoidance of any doubt, it is important to state that these projects were solely conceived, managed, and financially undertaken by The Creative Arts Agency, through its own fundraising activities.
Site 1, Ako Adjei, was funded by the private sector.
Site 2, Tetteh Quarshie, was paid for by myself, Gyankroma Akufo-Addo.
Site 3, was completed through the generosity of the creatively minded Ben Asante, CEO of Ghana Gas, understanding its social community importance.
The paint used for each site, again, was provided by Coral Paints and its CEO, who understand the importance of pushing visibility of Ghanaian artists. The absurdity of $25 million, or any amount for that matter, being awarded to myself to undertake this project is a disgusting narrative.
It is a complete fabrication being propagated by some shameless persons, and which, unfortunately, has been published by sections of the media. This project was not embarked upon to make profit, and there have been no lucrative contracts awarded for it.
All efforts to undermine my credibility through the publication of these falsehoods and baseless lies will not wash. I have instructed my lawyer to seek redress in the law courts against persons and media houses that published these falsehoods with the sole intention of destroying my reputation.
Gyankroma Akufo-Addo CEO, Creative Arts Agency

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini