Aggudey's imprisonment is a possible witch hunt - CPP

The Convention People’s Party say they believe that George Aggudey’s imprisonment is a product of a hidden agenda and a possible witch hunt by certain political figures.

In a statement by the communications director of the party, Nii Armah Akomfrah, the CPP said “Mr Aggudey has for many years complained about a witch hunt and targeting of his business, blaming certain political forces of being behind it.

“Coming a few days before the celebration of Founder’s Day, the 104th birthday anniversary of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, we would want to believe that this matter is not a product of a hidden agenda”.

The party, however, assured the family of their former flagbearer of their greatest support in this difficult time.

Below is the full statement by the CPP

CPP MEDIA RELEASE ON MR GEORGE AGGUDEY

It is with regret that we received the news of the sentencing of Mr George Aggudey to a prison term, after a SSNIT contributions case at an Accra Court.

It is firstly important to note that Mr Aggudey’s company Gocrest Security Services employs many people and has done for almost 30 years, contributing to the welfare of many families. The company continues to provide employment to many in Ghana and beyond Ghana’s borders.

The issue raises a number of questions however which must be addressed.

Mr Aggudey has for many years complained about a witch hunt and targeting of his business, blaming certain political forces of being behind it. Coming a few days before the celebration of Founder’s Day, the 104th birthday anniversary of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, we would want to believe that this matter is not a product of a hidden agenda.

As a party member and former Flagbearer of our party, the party will offer the greatest support to him and his family at this difficult time whilst the Leaders of our party seek to also meet with him to assess how best he can be assisted to ensure Gocrest Security complies with all employment laws.

As the party that created the architecture of modern Ghana, we are committed to good citizenship and social justice, and believe that every Ghanaian has the duty to contribute their quota towards national development. We however live in a country where mass poverty is the order of the day and many are those whose children cannot go beyond basic education this year, let alone proceed to junior secondary school. We have an urban housing deficit of close to two million people and many workers are pensioned off with pittance.

We attribute this state of affairs to the socio-economic policies of a state that listens to and protects the interests of rich countries and institutions outside the country more than those of its own people, thereby plunging the large majority into poverty. Against the background of the widening chasm between the rich and poor, our expectation is of government to implement programmes and policies to bring corruption and mismanagement of our resources to a minimum because these lie at the source of the country's problems.

What has happened to George Aggudey points to the malaise within our country and we are convinced that those at the helm of the state should go beyond the imprisonment of him as an individual to pursue this policy of punishing those who default in their payment of social security contributions to its logical conclusion, by holding all businesses in Ghana to account on all their obligations and not just a few. Some of the biggest Institutions in our land owe vast sums to utility companies for example.

It is a matter of regret that this has happened to a member of the CPP but it needs to be stated that the CPP has no involvement in the running of Mr. Aggudey's business affairs or those of our individual members and we therefore call on all business men and women within our ranks to seek good and appropriate advice to ensure that they regulate their affairs in such a way as not to fall foul of the law.

Nii Armah Akomfrah Director of Communication