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Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen has responded to the query by President Nana Akufo-Addo regarding the extortion allegations leveled against him and his Ministry.

Though the President, in a statement cleared the Sector Minister of any malfeasance; he however requested he discloses the facts in relation to the organization of the recent Ghana Expatriates Business Awards held on Friday, December 8 at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra.

Disclosing the facts, the Sector Minister denied the Ministry's involvement in extorting monies from expatriate business owners.

He explained that "the organizers of the event were specifically instructed not to collect any monies to place persons/organizations on the Presidential High Table for the event, and they provided assurances that this will not happen. It is worth noting that all the business executives who were seated at the Presidential High table, who incidentally are Chief Executives of some of the top tier corporate entities in Ghana, already have direct access to the President and do not need to pay monies to interact with him".

"For the avoidance of doubt, none of the individuals/companies who sat on the Presidential High Table at the event made a contribution of $100000.00 prior to the event as being alleged. Indeed, there were persons/companies seated at the Presidential High Table who did not make any monetary contribution before or after the event.

" . . there was no extortion or indication of extortion of monies from any expatriate business owner as being alleged. Indeed, no single individual has come out to make a claim of extortion," the Minister stated categorically.

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