Audio By Carbonatix
The Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper is mocking what government spokespersons describe as a sunlight campaign on judgment debt.
Malik Kweku Baako Jnr said the government “scored an own goal” in their futile attempt to rope in the New Patriotic Party flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo in the controversial judgment debt saga.
On Monday, a team of government officials led by a deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa brought out two letters written by Nana Addo- one as Attorney General in 2001 and the other as NPP flagbearer in 2011- justifying the claims of a Swiss Company Great Cape for an outstanding settlement of over a million dollars.
The company had its contract to supply clinker to the government of Ghana in 1978 breached and has been asking for settlement.
In 1997, the then NDC government paid an amount of $927,000 in what was expected to be the final payment of the debt owed the company which had Dr Nat Tanoh as a local representative.
But Great Cape returned with a petition that the interest accrued on the debt was miscalculated and were still owed a little over a million dollars.
The petition was accepted by the Attorney General under the NDC led government in 1999 before it lost power. When the NPP assumed the reins of power, the then Attorney General Nana Addo scrutinsed the petition and agreed with his predecessor that the claims being made by the Swiss company was legitimate and wrote to the Finance Ministry to make payments.
Somehow, the monies were not paid during the eight year tenure of the NPP and the company is making demands of the Mills led government to pay. But the government said it had no documentation on the matter and asked the company to seek the authentication of the 2001 letter written by Nana Addo.
That informed Nana Addo's 2011 letter as flagbearer of the NPP.
Okudzeto Ablakwa noted at the press conference the NPP flagbearer cannot privately write letters asking for companies to be paid judgement debts only to publicly criticize the payment.
That he said was insincere and hypocritical.
On Joy FM and MultiTV Newsfile programme, Saturday, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu who is a member of the government communications minced no words in describing Nana Addo as being highly hypocritical on the issue of judgment debts.
According to him, Nana Addo and his running mate Dr Bawumia as well as other spokespersons of the NPP have created the impression that judgment debt payment is tantamount to corruption, vowing never to pay such debt if they are voted into power.
He argued they cannot wage this public campaign against payment of judgment debts only to come back “nicodemously” and “on the quiet” write letters asking for judgment debts to be paid to private companies.
He also found it disconcerting that the NPP will accuse government functionaries of fronting for private companies to dupe the country when their only crime was that they put out the bare facts of a case.
“Is it possible to set out the facts even if it supports a private company, without being labeled a PRO of the company," he stated.
He said the NPP must be fair and consistent in their approach in dealing with this judgment debt saga, insisting the only way forward is for the NPP to be non-partisan, critically analyse the issue and proffer solution.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
DVLA warns against fake SMS traffic fines and fraudulent payment links
11 minutes -
Asafo Market traders, drivers appeal to KMA over recurring flooding
19 minutes -
Mahama’s approval rating drops to 58.9% but majority of Ghanaians still back him — IEA poll
20 minutes -
Veep welcomes Mahama home after UK, Belarus visits
28 minutes -
Tribute book “IMPRESSIONS” launched in honour of KNUST’s Prof. Ibok Oduro
34 minutes -
Joy Prime TV to broadcast World Cup 2026 matches
35 minutes -
Northern Region leaders back Ghana vaccine production plan but raise quality and access concerns
38 minutes -
Ghana’s economy expands by 6.4% in Q1 of 2026, driven by Services and Mining
43 minutes -
CSIR soil scientist warns imported fertilisers may be degrading Ghana’s farmlands
45 minutes -
KATH OPD resumes full operations after suspension of doctors’ strike
50 minutes -
Ahmad Tea announces Antoine Semenyo as Global Brand Ambassador
51 minutes -
Tarkwa-Nsuaem NPP elections halted by Sekondi High Court over injunction application
53 minutes -
Ghana’s unemployment pegged at 13.1%, inequality at 43.5%
53 minutes -
GMet warns of heightened flood risk in Accra as June rainfall projected to intensify
56 minutes -
Tension at Afari Military Hospital as soldiers block Minority MPs’ inspection of abandoned facility
1 hour