$100k for seat: Trade Ministry did no wrong – Government defends

Government has defended the Trade and Industry Ministry for allegedly "selling" seats at the President’s table to expatriate businessmen at an award ceremony.

This follows the Trade Minister’s response to a query from the President demanding answers to circumstances that led to the ministry allegedly charging various sums of money from the expatriate businessmen who took part in the awards ceremony.

Background

The Ministry of Trade and Industry received some backlashes from the Minority in Parliament and some Ghanaaians for charging expatriates a staggering $100,000 to permit them to sit close to the “President” at the Ghana Expatriates Business Awards (GEBA) held on December 8, 2017.

The allegation which was first raised in Parliament by Member of Parliament for Asawase Constituency, Muntaka Mubarak has since generated controversy, resulting in the President demanding explanations from the Minister of Trade and Industry.

But a statement from the Office of the President signed by the Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid has cleared the Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen because “The facts, as reported to the president, do not disclose any wrongdoing on the part of the Minister or any government official”.

However, according to the statement, Mr. Kyerematen has been asked by President Akufo-Addo “to put those facts before the Ghanaian people.”

Read full statement below