Akufo-Addo justifies decision in clearing Trade Minister in ‘cash-for-seat’ saga

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has justified strongly the decision of the Presidency to clear the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyerematen, and the ministry of any wrongdoing in the cash-for-seat saga.

He explained that the Presidency cleared the minister after it had conducted thorough investigations into the matter.

The President was responding to questions from journalists at a media engagement at the Flagstaff House, Accra.

The questions focused on issues such as the GITMO Two, corruption, the Special Prosecutor, the national development plan, terrorism, agriculture, unemployment and security.

Reacting to the question on Mr Kyerematen, President  Akufo-Addo said when the alleged scandal broke, he directed Mr Kyerematen to respond to the allegation.

He said the minister gave a full account of the processes that took place, the money that had been paid and a full accounting of the money.

“I looked at the explanation and examined it with others and I believe the statement Mr Kyerematen made to me is the very same statement he made before the committee and has been supported by virtually everybody who was involved in the organisation of the event.

“The fact that there is a public enquiry does not in itself shake my own conviction that nothing untoward had taken place; that is the reason I took that position even before the special enquiry was launched,” the president stated.

“I supported the decision that an enquiry should be launched, so that there can be no question that anybody is attempting to cover anything up and people can see the bright light of day,” he added.

‘I was amazed at allegation’

The President said the expatriate businessman at the centre of the controversy, Mr Saied Fahkry, the Chairman of Interplast, was a personal friend whom he had known for nearly 40 years.

He, therefore, wondered how such a person would pay $100,000 to sit next to him at the Ghana Expatriate Business Awards (GEBA) held in Accra on December 4, 2017.

“The figure at the centre of the controversy, who won the award, has been a client of mine for nearly 40 years and his father was a good friend of my own father; he himself is a good friend of mine and I have known him and I eat in his house and he eats in my house.

“I have his telephone number and he has mine. Even after I became President, I have been to his house a couple of times. The reason I go to his house is that he makes the best Lebanese food.

“I have been amazed that somebody I have known needs to pay money to sit next to me. This is a man who can get me on telephone any time of his choosing,” the President explained.

Allegation

The allegation is that the MoTI was involved in the collection of between $15,000 and $100,000 from the expatriate businessmen and women to secure them seats on the presidential high table.

Following the allegation, the Presidency initiated an investigation into the matter by seeking explanation from Mr Kyerematen, and after the investigations, the Presidency cleared the minister and his ministry of any wrongdoing. 

Answering a question on what he was doing as the President to ensure effectiveness in the fight against corruption, President Akufo-Addo said he was committed to fighting corruption, a reason for which he had chosen to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate past and current corrupt officials.

He explained that while the appointment of the Special Prosecutor confirmed his readiness to reduce corruption, every allegation of corruption against government appointees must be backed by evidence.

‘Ghana is stable and safe’

Touching on terrorism, the President said terrorism by Jihadists and other Islamic militants was a threat facing all countries around the globe, including African nations such as Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Mali, adding that “Ghana cannot be exempt and it is a potential target”.

He, therefore, called for the sharing of intelligence among the security agencies in the sub-region to counter the activities of terrorist groups.

He, however, gave an assurance that “Ghana is stable and safe and we will do everything we can to sustain such peaceful environment by supplying resources and logistics to the security agencies to sharpen their capabilities to offer the people protection”.