KRL International LLC has denied claims that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had used funds from the public purse to support the party’s political activities.

Their statement follows a recent article anonymously published on the Open Source Investigations (OSI) website which alleged that President Akufo-Addo had paid KRL International for their service in his campaign using public funds.

Indeed, KRL admitted to have started working with the President since his 2008 campaign in a transparent and proper manner.

However contrary to what the article on OSI suggested, the President had not paid them for their service in his campaign using public funds.

According to the firm, their continuing to work with President Akufo-Addo was under a different contract with the Finance Ministry engaging international stakeholders and media houses on behalf of the Ministry for the past three years, supporting the promotion of initiatives such as One District One Factory (1D1F), Planting for Food and Jobs, Ghana Beyond Aid, and resource mobilisation for Covid-19.

They said, “KRL had separate contracts to work with the campaign and with the government, which were financed separately, as appropriate, and made available under US laws to the US Department of Justice. Indeed, KRL’s relationship with Nana Akufo-Addo dates back to his 2008 campaign. It has been transparent and proper."

They explained further saying, “Prior to President Akufo-Addo’s inauguration on January 7, 2017 KRL had a contract with the ‘I Am for Nana Foundation’ in support of his campaign, followed by an agreement with the Office of the President-Elect to offer support during the transition period.

“Several months after President AkufoAddo took office and established a cabinet, KRL signed its first agreement with the government of Ghana to provide support to the Ministry of Finance.

“Pursuant to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), KRL has always submitted timely and transparent reporting to the U.S. Justice Department on all work with foreign governments and political parties.”

In this vein, KRL says the claims being leveled against President Akufo-Addo, the government of Ghana and their firm should be disregarded and treated with contempt.

They also questioned the credibility and authenticity of the website which publishes content under anonymity.

KRL has threatened to file a formal legal complaint against the site once they establish who the owners and editors are.

They said, “OSI, which presents itself as an international investigative body, is but a partisan blog, established in 2015 to publish largely defamatory content about then-candidate Nana Akufo-Addo. It was reactivated in 2020 for the same mission.

“During this recent time frame, KRL has been the subject of three attacks. OSI’s reports lack authors, attribution, fact checking and credibility. KRL will be filing a formal Legal Complaint against the site once we can determine its ownership, management, and editorial team.

“None of this information is publicly disclosed. Journalists who cite their content should conduct their due diligence, or they put their own reputations at risk.”