Agyepong denies Palaver story

Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Press Secretary of the President, has denied a newspaper story which said that the government and World Bank are in secret five million dollars deal for Asanteman and Akyem Abuakwa as the government's ethnic agenda gathers momentum.

Mr Agyepong, who was briefing reporters at the Castle on Thursday said the collaboration between the World Bank, Asanteman and Akyem Abuakwa traditional authorities in education and social services is a direct fallout of the trip Asantehene made in 1999.

During that trip, he interacted with the World Bank and mooted the idea for support for traditional areas, he said.

"The idea was incorporated in the World Bank Country Assistance Strategy for the year 2002. In fact, the then Minister for Finance, Mr Kwame Peprah and his deputy, Mr. Victor Selormey supervised the entire project proposal.

"The present government made different proposals for the consideration of the World Bank to convert the facility for the Project from a loan into a grant.

"Government also recommended to the World Bank to deal directly with the traditional authorities. So the Government has no hand in the original idea of assistance for the traditional authorities."

Mr. Agyepong said the claims of the newspaper are unfair, adding that the government is ready to work with people without looking at their ethnicity.

It said the story is another attempt by agents of the NDC claimed at misinforming, creating disaffection and tarnishing the reputation of the President and the government.