CID probes Nana boys over corruption allegations

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate three of his appointees who have been accused of corruption.

They include two Deputy Chiefs of Staff – Samuel Abu Jinapor and Francis Asenso-Boakye – and Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.

He has also charged the people making the allegations to make themselves available to the CID to substantiate their claims.

Controversial musician and satirist, Kwame Asare Obeng popularly called Kwame A-Plus, recently alleged that the two deputy chiefs of staff were involved in corruption-related activities and as a result, the president has asked the Financial Forensic Unit of the CID to look into the matter.

Presidential Audience

A-Plus, who is a member of the ruling NPP, said on radio yesterday that he was at the seat of government on Tuesday and the president granted him audience.

He later said he apologized to him (president) for making the allegations public instead of using the appropriate channels.

“The approach was very wrong. I have apologized to the president especially,” he said on Citi FM.

“It is not being public that will solve the issue. It is about getting it to the right authorities and making sure that it is sorted out. It was a very wrong approach. I have apologized. Any opportunity that I have, I will apologize for the approach. The method was very wrong,” he expressed.

A-Plus, however, did not take back his allegations against the two deputy chiefs of staff when probed, according to Citi FM.

He had posted on his page on social media platform – Facebook – that “…7 months of NPP government. So far so good, except appointing some very corrupt officials, including the two…….deputy chiefs of staff. It’s amazing how Nana was able to appoint two thieves……..Arrogant and corrupt…. You think you’ll be in power forever. Even John Mahama, I was not afraid of him, then you (sic).”

In the case of the communications minister, the CID has been asked to look into the allegation made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, that the award of the contract to produce National Identification Cards by the National Identification Authority (NIA) was riddled with corruption.

There are other allegations made by the MP which are being investigated by the CID, including the one he claimed there are some people at the presidency and in the NPP who are charging $20,000 from private individuals who want to gain access to President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Flagstaff House.

Mr Agyepong has confirmed that the CID got in touch with him last Friday before the NPP’s National Delegates’ Conference was held in Cape Coast, the Central regional capital, the following day, where the president declared that he wouldn’t allow any of his appointees to rock his boat.

The MP said on Adom FM on Tuesday that there was festering corruption at the Flagstaff House and that it was not limited to the two deputy chiefs of staff.

He indicated his readiness to cooperate with the investigators.

Asenso Replies

One of the deputy chiefs of staff, Francis Asenso-Boakye, incensed by A-Plus’ allegation, also took to the same social media to reject the accusation leveled against him by the musician-turned politician.

“Indulging in baseless accusations and unsubstantiated claims of corruption and arrogance is beneath you and frankly discredits you in the eyes of right-thinking Ghanaians. As the President noted at the just-ended NPP Conference, he is willing and ready to look into any case of alleged corruption. You may kindly take up his generous offer and present your case to him,” he fought back.

President’s Commitment

At the NPP’s progrmme in Cape Coast, President Akufo-Addo reiterated his commitment to stem corruption in the country and warned his appointees that he was not going to shield anybody found to be corrupt.

“Let me reassure you of one thing. Any allegation about corruption against any official member of my government will be investigated by the law enforcement agencies. And those who made that allegation better be prepared to support it when they are making these allegations of corruption because nobody is going to get away with it,” the President said.

The president also said he has “instructed the law enforcement agencies to investigate every allegation of corruption in my government”.