Disregard ‘fake news’ on Dr. Bawumia – Eugene Arhin

Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, is urging the public to disregard a press release purported to be signed and issued by him claiming that Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia would no longer speak to issues on Ghana’s currency and economic issues.

It is a “fake statement”, he says to queries by Graphic Online whether the statement was official and indeed emanated from his office.

“Kindly disregard this false statement. No such decision has been or will be made by the President of the Republic. Any statement from the Presidency can also be found on www.presidency.gov.gh”, he explained on Facebook.

The ‘fake’ statement printed on a presidency letterhead and dated September 12, bears Mr. Arhin’s signature and directs that all queries on currency issues and the economy be forwarded to the offices of the Finance Minister or to the Senior Minister.

“The President has with a heavy heart and with immediate effect appointed Senior Minister Mr. Yaw Osafo Marfo (sic) to chair the meetings of the Economic Management Team.

“The President is hopeful that this measure will bring back investor confidence and shore up the deteriorating state of the economy.”

A number of journalists commenting on the statement had concluded that the fakeness was evident even from a mile away. “The language is horrible and the whole piece, including the obviously superimposed signature, lacked quality to be linked with the presidency”, said one of the journalists.

Meanwhile reactions to Eugene's Facebook post have been mixed, with some claiming it is not fake after all while others link it to the largest opposition, the National Democratic Congress.