Naagyei 90.3 Fm Agyapa
Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has described as ”absolute nonsense” the call by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on President Akufo Addo to open himself up for an independent investigation into his involvement in the bribery scandal involving the banned former President of the Ghana Football Association, (GFA) Kwasi Nyantakyi.
The NDC has urged President Akufo-Addo to, as a matter of urgency, clear his name with regards to the Number 12 undercover documentary by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas which exposed massive corruption in Ghana football.
A statement by the NDC said “FIFA’s decision to ban Mr. Nyantakyi after months of rigorous investigations raises serious questions about the involvement of President Akufo-Addo in the bribery scandal; and also brings to the fore, once again, the need for the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to inform Ghanaians about the status of their investigations into this scandal which has tarnished the image of Ghanaians and Ghana.”
The NDC stated that “unlike FIFA, the government of Ghana has made little effort to look into the matter with a view to bringing culpable officials to book, despite available evidence.
“We find as completely inadequate, the purported investigation by the Police CID whose conduct has served to compromise any outcome. We urge President Akufo-Addo to open himself up for transparent and credible investigations by an independent body to clear his name in the said matter.”
But the veteran Journalist finds the NDC’s call on President Akufo Addo totally misplaced.
“This is infantile nonsense, crude and cheap politics, it is annoying. What is wrong with politicians, this is opportunism at the highest order, there’s no basis for this call. He should open himself for an independent body to investigate him, who sets that body? The President when his name popped up in the video,what did he do, didn’t he not call on the CID to investigate, are the CID not investigating, so what else? Anyone who feels the CID’s work is inadequate you have other options. The NDC can decide to go to CHRAJ, what independent body are the calling for? this is just crass opportunism, that’s what it is. It distorts the debate and the discourse.
“This is so predictable from the NDC, weak and wicked minds, it just doesn’t make sense there’s absolutely no basis for it. I’ve not finished reading their statement but has heard a bit on air, it’so pathetic. Investigate the President for what? Has the President prevented anyone from taking any independent action? or they are asking for a commission of enquiry which the President himself will set up. Did Parliament not make an attempt to set up a committee to investigate the matter. I remember a motion was moved, is the NDC not in Parliament, I remember the Speaker saying that yes it’s been adopted and they are going to fix the membership, what has happened? So if they want to do, they shouldn’t call on the President to open himself for investigation, has the President closed the door on any investigation.
“To give the impression that what was there implicated the President in corruption is absolute nonsense. Sometimes we should be very strict and direct, the crudity of our politics irritates me. It’s not enlightening, I’m intrigued by the lack of enlightenment in this statement, we need to elevate our discourse and stop this pollution and distortion of public discourse in the name of partisan politics. This is bare face opportunism,” Baako fumed.
