25 stolen state cars retrieved - Obiri Boahen

Twenty-five stolen state vehicles have been retrieved from former government officials as well as members and sympathisers of the outgone Mahama administration and the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Obiri Boahen, Deputy General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has revealed.

According to Mr Boahen, Kwame Baffoe, alias Abronye DC, Brong Ahafo Youth Organiser of the NPP, who has been spearheading the retrieval of the cars, has details of all the retrieved cars.

He told Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen political talk show on Wednesday 22 February that contrary to claims by the NDC that the government was just fishing for some alleged 208 missing state cars in a manner symptomatic of witch-hunting, over two dozens of such state cars had been found and repossessed.

The president, a few weeks ago set up a committee to lead the retrieval of the vehicles and other state assets.

Meanwhile, Mr Kofi Adams, the NDC’s National Organiser, has sued Mr Kwame Baffoe, Nana Obiri Boahen, and David Asante (member of the NPP’s communication team) for defamation in connection with claims that he stole state vehicles.

Mr Adams said in his statement of claim that the three NPP officials made separate comments suggesting he stole five cars that were seized from his residence a few weeks ago.

Among the eight reliefs being jointly and severally sought by Mr Adams against the defendants is for the court to cause them to compensate him with GHS1million each in damages.

All eight claims are listed below as follows

(i) An order for an unconditional retraction and an unqualified apology for the said defamatory comments/broadcasts/publication. Doing so separately and in the Daily Graphic newspaper and for same to be given equal prominence and the complained comment/broadcast/publication within 14 days from the day of judgment

(ii) an order that the content of relief (i) above be subject to the prior approval of plaintiff and for defendants to personally and separately read out same on all media networks mentioned in paragraphs 12 above and doing so within 14 days from the day of judgement

(iii) an order of perpetual injunction restraining defendants from any further comments of said complained defamation

(iv) general damages for defamation

(v) aggravated or exemplary damages for the malicious defamation

(vi) compensatory damages of GHS1m each for injury to character and integrity

(viii) cost including legal fees

(viii) further or other reliefs

The five cars were seized on 1 February by a horde of police, DVLA and National Security officials on suspicion that they were stolen state assets but were later returned to him after he provided all the needed documents covering it.