The Minority Leader in Parliament Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu says he has reasons to believe that the Vice President, John Mahama or his agent directed the Ghana Cocobod to lift the ban placed on UK cocoa buying company, Armajaro Holdings. Armajaro and two other companies were banned from buying cocoa in Ghana following their implication in smuggling activity from Ghana into Ivory Coast. UK newspapers have been questioning why Britain’s International Development Secretary intervened through Ghana’s Vice president to have the ban lifted. Although the office of the Vice president has categorically stated that he only directed the UK minister to have the company petition Cocobod over the matter, the National Chairman of the NPP is demanding further explanations on the Vice President’s role in the matter. However, the Minority leader Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has told Citi News he has information that the Vice President contrary to his denial, intervened directly on behalf of Armajaro. “My information is that the Vice President or his agent asked a person at Cocobod to have a second look at the case involving Armajaro” he said. According to him, the Vice President or his agent asked a Cocobod official to take a second look at the ban, with particular reference to Armajaro. “Why only Armajaro”? He asked. Hon. Kyei Mensah told Citi News that the Ghana Cocobod only decided to lift the ban on the two other companies as reports suggest, because both firms had complained about unfair treatment after the ban on Armajaro was lifted. In a sharp rebuttal, the Vice President’s Aide, John Jinapor rubbished the Minority Leader’s claims and questioned why he is putting out information that he could not substantiate. According to him, the opposition NPP is only seeking to smear the enviable reputation of the Vice President. “I am surprised at the Minority Leader. I thought that Minority Leaders will behave in an honorable manner. How can you go on air and say that information you have received indicate that either the Vice President or his agent contacted Cocobod to get a ban lifted? You are asked to substantiate it and you say that it is information you just received and that is it. So how can we take you serious as a Minority Leader? I think it is very unfortunate and we will allow Ghanaians to judge such people. We are aware of the kind of things they are doing. If you don’t have evidence, you don’t come on air and spew out such allegations because we can all do that. In your attempt to be desperate for power, I think that you should resort to facts” he said. Source: Citifmonline.com