The deputy Minister for Energy K. T. Hammond on Friday morning, failed to appear on a JOYFM discussion programme, Front Page to state government’s position on former GNPC Chief Executive, Tsatsu Tsikata’s reaction to allegations of impropriety. The government has accused Mr. Tsikata of financial mismanagement of GNPC but at a press conference, Mr. Tsikata described government’s allegations as false.
The deputy Minister was therefore invited to challenge Mr. Tsikata who was also on the programme on some substantive issues he raised concerning the GNPC. Mr Hammond had earlier agreed to appear on the programme after telling JOY FM at the venue of Mr. Tsikata’s press conference on Thursday, that the issues at stake had not been answered.
His failure to appear on the programme was condemned by many callers to the programme. The callers were divided between believing Mr. Tsikata or condemning government’s allegations against him. The callers noted that the presence of Mr. Hammond would have set matters at rest.
After the two-hour programme, Mr. Hammond called the host of the programme, Kwaku Sakyi- Addo on his mobile phone demanding to be put on-air to react to the concerns by the callers and certain allegations. Mr. Sakyi- Addo who was clearly upset could not hide his feelings about the deputy Minister’s approach.
He noted that the behaviour of the Minister was a disgrace to government’s public relations machinery since the public has been denied the opportunity to know the truth or otherwise of Mr. Tsikata’s response to the various allegations. According to Mr. Sakyi Addo, the government as well as Mr. Hammond was given enough notification to appear on the programme. He noted that the deputy Minister confirmed his participation a day before the programme.
However, when he was called on his telephone at the start of the programme, the deputy Minister said he was still in bed. He promised though that he will arrive at the studio’s of JOYFM in 20 minutes but he failed to turn up. It was only when he was called again after 30 minutes into the programme, that he told the producer that he cannot honour the invitation.
