The Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has asked the opposition NPP to apologize to all Ghanaians over what he believes is a failed attempt by the NPP to tag government with a plot to bribe journalists who will do its bidding. “The NPP’S attempt to smear the NDC government with false allegations of trying to bribe journalists is nothing but shows how anxious they are to forcefully wrestle power from the current government”. This follows the NPP’s release of a mystery tape which sought to indict the ruling government and Baba Jamal, a Minister of Information in an alleged attempt to bribe journalists in the country with funding from the National Youth Employment Programme. According to Mr. Ablakwa the evidences put up by the NPP in this regard have only proven to be concoctions and forgeries directed at making the government unpopular ahead of the 2012 elections. Speaking on Asempa FM’s current affairs talk show, Ekosii Sen on Monday the deputy minister said the NPP must render an apology to the whole nation especially the government, NYEP and the journalists whose names were published in the alleged bribery scandal. Mr. Ablakwa said the future and reputation of these journalists have been blighted and dented as a result of the alleged scandal. This he said might even cause them their jobs if not handled carefully or might prevent them from seeking other offices or job opportunities in the future. The information concerning the bank and the account numbers involved in the scandal have all been proven to be untrue after checks from the said bank. He added that government has come out clear to deny the allegations and has no intentions of holding on to power by bribing journalists which happens to be the unfortunate picture the opposition is trying to paint. The deputy minister also explained that Research International’s publication of Mills’ supposed unpopularity among the Christian fraternity can only be best described as “irresponsible” and very dangerous. The polls suggested that Christians will vote for Nana Addo in 2012 while Muslims and atheists will vote for President Mills. Mr. Ablakwa said this amounted to segregation on religious basis which could result in divisions among Ghanaians: a recipe for disaster just as it is happening in neighbouring Nigeria. Research International’s credibility is called into question when they predicted that Nana Akufo-Addo was going to win the 2008 general elections with over sixty percent of the votes. Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa said this was of no importance to national development and must be utterly debunked. Political parties must rather be engaged in discussing issues of development. Let us not roll back the clock and thwart all the efforts of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and others who toiled to make Ghana what it is today, he advised.