$13m diversion claim: Mahama incorruptible unlike Akufo-Addo – Mogtari

Former President John Mahama has described as “false and dubious” claims that he diverted $13 million of E.O. Group funds meant for the development of the Western Region while he was Vice-President.

“Former President Mahama, unlike President Nana Akufo-Addo, is incorruptible, a statement issued by Mr Mahama’s Special Aide, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, said.

This is in response to a petition filed by four private Ghanaian citizens at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, demanding that Mr Martin Amidu investigate Mr Mahama over the matter.

The four: Emmanuel Owusu, Eric Dumenu Akatsi, Peprah Kyei Baffour and Dawda Eric, in a petition, dated 18 June 2018 said: “We submit before your office, this petition to invoke section 3(1)(b) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act,2017(Act 959) to have former President John Dramani investigated for alleged diversion of $13m meant for the development of Western Region from the E.O. group of company as part of their corporate social responsibilities.

“The said article alleged that former President John Dramani diverted $13m to private pockets when he served as Vice-President.”

It added: “We do consider the allegation against him as criminal and for that matter, we humbly beseech your office to have this matter investigated to get those monies retrieved back to the public purse. It is our conviction that, the issue be considered in the interest of the Republic of Ghana.”

But the office of the former President in its statement said the allegations against the former leader is groundless, insisting that to suggest a President can divert funds from a private company in the circumstances described is absurd.

According to the statement, “It actually makes a mockery of the Special Prosecutor that the surrogates of the NPP will cite as their evidence, an article they say was written by him. This is a man who during his public vetting before parliament said the allegations he made against various people over the years, were based on perception.

The statement further added that Mr Mahama “welcomes the said petition and expects the Special Prosecutor, who the petitioners claim is the originator and source of the false and dubious claims, to expeditiously commence its work”.