A former Presidential staffer, Dr. Clement Apaak has failed to prove his claims that the John Mahama government ordered 43 new vehicles for the presidency few weeks before leaving office on the behest of the current government.
Dr. Apaak, the Buila South MP, who first made the claim on Citi FM, had promised to provide further evidence to back his claims.
But when he was called back on Eyewitness News on Monday after a Deputy Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah had denied his claims, he failed to back down, and insisted he was right because some sources gave him that information. According to him, his “sources” confirm that, that was what happened and not what is being suggested by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government that they bought the cars on their own accord.
Dr. Apaak’s account of events is even more questionable, especially as Citi News has sighted a document which suggests that an approval was given for the purchase of the car by the then Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, even before the formation of the transition team.
Dr. Apaak’s attempt to justify his position on Eyewitness News did not appear convincing as he failed to indicate whether or not the request by the current government was documented.
“My sources have indicated very strongly that the said request was made to our side by the current senior minister and the minister for finance, and indeed if they want to deny, they may do so, but I say this on authority and I believe from my sources as well that it was on that basis that the letter giving authorization was written by the former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah,” he said.
He said the transition team of the then incoming NPP government made the request even at some of the transition team meetings. Dr. Apaak said the fact that the record of such transaction was available to the current government indicated that, it was aware it being undertaken by the former government.
He challenged the government to take “remedial action” on the matter if it is dissatisfied about the transaction and deny they did not authorize it.
While contributing to the subject on The Big Issue on Saturday, Dr. Apaak said the previous government did nothing untoward in signing the agreement for the supply of the sophisticated cars.
“It’s indeed true that the said vehicles were ordered, but the request was made to our side during the transition. So if indeed the vehicles have been procured, I can say on authority that it was part of the request which was made by the incoming government,” he said.
But a deputy minister for information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told Citi News in a separate interview that the Akufo-Addo administration’s side of the Transition team had no hand in the ordering of the 43 new vehicles as the former presidential staffer alleged.
“In all the transition meetings that we attended and in all the matters that we discussed, I had never heard of this matter….The first step when somebody makes a claim like this will be to ask him whether or not he can back this verbal claim he is making… with some sort some proof that indeed shows that this request was made before we escalate it to this level of conversation.”
Source: citifmonline.com
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I listened to the replay of the interview this morning on Citi FM. It's unfortunate some people have made lies the exit tunnels through which they believe they can get out of difficulties. They lie in all cases and sometimes they succeed above the average Kofi Ghana who wants to stick to the truth. They copy in exams, they forge their CVs and get the best jobs. While working, they copy ideas, lie about colleagues to get ahead etc etc. In the end, that Apaak interview betrayed the fact that we need to take lies seriously in this country!
FROM WHERE I SIT, I CAN NOT FATHOM OUT WHY A SENSITIVE SECURITY OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TAMPERED WITH BY AN OPPONENT. WHO GAVE THE SAID COMPANY THE SECURITY DETAILS, FEATURES TO EMBOSS ON THE CARS? ARE THOSE SECURITY DETAILS WEAKNESS & STRENGTHS KNOWN TO THE OPPOSITION (NDC). SENSITIVE INFORMATIONS, PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS, SURVEILANCE OF THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, AND THEIR SPOUSES AND NATIONAL SECURITY WHO MAY BE USING THESE CARS ARE NOT GUARRANTEE. I CAN PROFESS THIS IS MORE THAN A PLANNED SUICIDE BOMB. AND IF NPP IS LISTENING, IS BETTER TO INCUR JUDGEMENT DEBT THAN BUY IN TO THIS KILLER OCHESTRATED PLAN BY NDC. UNTIL NOW I THOUGHT FORMER PRTESIDENT MAHAMA MEANT GOOD, BUT THIS FAR FROM IT. NPP SHOULD NEVER USE THESE CARS AGAINST THEIR PERSONAL SECURITY, PRIVACY AND PERIL OF THEIR QUALITY LIVES.
And the sad thing is, Apaak is refereed to as honourable...honourable my foot.
First it was lies from Ayariga, now it is another liar, Apaak. Upper East NDC MPs are just liars. Why do we have a parliament if we let liarrs get inside them? What a stuuuuppppid country Ghana is!
It's about time parliament institute some stiff punishments to their members who don't conduct themselves appropriately. Lies, defamation, insults, irresponsible and unsubstantiated comments and statements from such should be suspended or better still, kicked out from parliament. Behaviours like that of ayariga, okudjeto ablakwa and the likes concerning the supposed bribery allegations shouldn't be tolerated. If they can't hold themselves honourably, then they're not fit to be parliament. We need serious, honest and credible people in there not riff.raffs who have no business being there
This man again! Remember the disgraceful lies he told regarding the cost of the Vice President's mansion. No wonder.......he worked in the flagstaff house during the tenure of the out-gone administration.
NDC LIED TO GHANAIANS IN GOVERNMENT AND THEY ARE STILL LYING IN OPPOSITION.WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE THEY?HE IS DEFENDING BECAUSE THEY HAVE INFLATED THE CONTRACT AMOUNT.GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT TAKE THE CARS.HOW CAN YOU MAKE YOUR ENEMIES REQUEST FOR A SECURITY CARS FOR YOU?GOVERNMENT SHOULD MEET THE COMPANY IN COURT BECAUSE GHANAIANS ARE TIRED OF THIS CORRUPT NDC.
Folks, I keep on telling you that this guy can't stop his lies oooh tonn! He is my school-mate in Norway, and that is his trade-mark!
This Apaak guy is not fit to be in parliament.... He is a pathological l.i.a.r and not fit to be called honourable.... I want to believe the cr!m!nal gang called NDC is cursed. They like chop chop too much. Even the cost of the vehicles alone shows that it one of their usual create, l00t and share schemes. Rawlings said it all. Some of the John Mahama appointees are unbelievably greedy. We should not allow these cr!m!nal NDC guys to govern us again. How can a vice presidential residence in Ghana cost $13 million?