Audio By Carbonatix
North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the latest brouhaha over the salary of the former COCOBOD CEO has confirmed his suspicions that government is witch-hunting Dr. Stephen Opuni.
"I think I can now begin to point to some witch-hunt," he said on JOY FM/MultiTV's Saturday news analysis show Newsfile.
Revelations that the former CEO was on a gross salary of 70,000 ($17,500) has set tongues wagging with what vocal sections of the public consider excessive and immoral.
Some have expressed shock that a cash-strapped cocoa marketing board is able to shell out the 4-digit figure every month. New Board Chairman, Hackman Owusu Agyeman has vowed to make drastic cuts in the remuneration packages of senior management at the Board.
But for Okudzeto Ablakwa, the disclosure of Dr. Opuni's salary is another jigsaw which fits into his theory that the former government official is a target of state-sponsored harassment.
Cataloguing the basis of his complaint, Ablakwa observed that Dr. Opuni was the first of several CEOs of state-owned enterprises to be fired following a change in government on January 7, 2017.
"He was invited to the Flagstaff House, stayed there virtually the whole day. Then received his letter indicating that, that evening he should vacate post. He was not even given time to go to the office and pack out."
The North Tongu MP said the manner of his dismissal attracted condemnation from a respected senior citizen, K.B Asante.
Since his humiliating sacking, six days after a new government took office on January 7, Dr. Opuni has been hounded by state security apparatus, Okudzeto claimed.
Okudzeto Ablakwa said Dr.Opuni has not been told of his crimes or charges and yet "every day, he is facing one probe or the other. If he is not at the CID, he is at BNI, he is at EOCO".
Dr. Opuni is being investigated for fraud following reports linking him to shady deals and contracts. But the North Tongu MP stressed government if it believes Opuni has a case to answer, must follow the correct the legal procedure.
The NDC MP said discussions about the salary of Dr. Opuni has been skewed to crucify the former CEO.
"Did he fix his own alary? And what was his predecessor receiving? What has been the standard practice?"
The North Tongu MP decried the publishing of the public officers' salary as unethical and morally wrong.
Okudzeto Ablakwa associated himself with comments made by former President John Agyekum Kufuor calling on Ghanaians not to be quick to pass judgement on the former CEO.
Latest Stories
-
Police take over Gomoa Nyanyano after two factions clash in chieftaincy dispute
3 minutes -
Alavanyo Paramount Queen backs Asantehene in opposition to inclusion of Queenmothers in Houses of Chiefs
34 minutes -
OSP’s preventive actions saved Ghana millions – Sammy Darko
1 hour -
Galamsey cuts off cocoa farms in Mfantseman, farmers suffer heavy losses
2 hours -
Ghanaian delegation set for January 20, 2026 trip to Latvia in Nana Agyei case – Ablakwa
3 hours -
Accra turns white as Dîner en Blanc delivers night of elegance and culture
5 hours -
War-torn Myanmar voting in widely criticised ‘sham’ election
7 hours -
Justice by guesswork is dangerous – Constitution Review Chair calls for data-driven court reforms
7 hours -
Justice delayed is justice denied, the system is failing litigants – Constitution Review Chair
8 hours -
Reform without data is a gamble – Constitution Review Chair warns against rushing Supreme Court changes
8 hours -
Rich and voiceless: How Putin has kept Russia’s billionaires on side in the war against Ukraine
8 hours -
Cruise ship hits reef on first trip since leaving passenger on island
9 hours -
UK restricts DR Congo visas over migrant return policy
9 hours -
Attack on Kyiv shows ‘Russia doesn’t want peace’, Zelensky says
9 hours -
Two dead in 50-vehicle pile up on Japan highway
9 hours
