RE: 36b Spin Money - Statement From Egbert Faibille

Following a release by Mr. Egbert Faibille, the editor-in-chief of the Ghanaian Observer trying to react to a publication by the Insight newspaper about his alledged involvement in a 36billion cedis acquisition of phone lines for NPP party friends and journalist on Ghanaweb, I wish to react.I wish to also react briefly on the minister of Infomation's earlier denial and his later confirmation of this serious but important allegation.

First of all, I don't think Mr Faibille has to bitter with the Insight for publishing this story because as it was said by he himself,it was true that his name was sent to Ghana telecom but it was later asked to be deleted.As to whether it was later asked to deleted or not was not known to anybody untill the publication was made.To me the Insight did the right thing because we are in an era where governments have their media collaborators who come out to deny the wrong doings of the government whenever the public gets wind of it through the good works of the so called anti-government media.If the Insight had decided to ask too many questions before publishing it, the perpetrators would have deviced the necessary counter-machineries to debunk the allegation before it comes out as that is typical of the operations of those so called government media collaborators.I believe the mere acquisition of the authentic documents bearing the list of names of those whose name were

sent to Ghana telecom and other investigations they might have done were enough to do the publication pending further developments on the issue.Atleast after the publication,we can see some truths and slip of the tongues coming out as can be seen from the minister of Information's earlier denial and subsequent confirmation of this issue of national interest.It would be worth of note that this allegation is very serious and important because it bothers on the misuse of the tax-payers money in one's quest to maintain political power and the unnecessity of a media monitoring team for a developing counrty like Ghana which is bedevilled with myriad of problems and I will plead with Mr.Faibille to exercise restraint till the truth sets him free.

Secondly, I would like to comment on the minister of information's earlier denail and his subsequent confirmation of this allegation.I remember when the publication was first made, he came out and denied it.Here we are again, he came out to confirm it with an excuse that it's the amonut involved that was not quoted right.This alone warrants a thorogh investigation into this allegation made by the Insight.But I do also think that this is very very unfortunate and I cannot believe that we have people like these at the helm of affiars of our dear nation.Even if it's a cedi, it's the tax-payers money and we need to know that it's being used judiciously.The minister said it so light as if it is nothing serious that it is true but it's the amount which wasn't rightly quoted because they are used to spending state funds extravagantly and larvishly.

Media monitorng team?Do we need this as nation at all?Have Ghanaians asked for our national constitution to be changed so that we have only the NPP in power such that we need a media monitoring team to spin for them to remain in power forever?God help us.What do we need a media monitoring team for in a country where university students are crying for water,electricity to study and descent accomadation?What do we need a media monitoring team for in a country which is bedevilled with strike actions by service workers especially teachers and health workers when the funds used for this unnecessary things can used to solved these striking problems.

Finally, I suggest the necessary thorough investigations must be done by the powers that be on this issue devoid of any cover-up exercise and the truth made known to the Ghanaian public.

ALHAJI BABA SUWARI,NEW YORK

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