GH¢100K bribe claim: NPP Chairman drags 5 to court

The Central Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Robert Kutin has initiated a legal action against Mathew Botchwey, affectionately known in Cape Coast as Kalifonia, the region’s Deputy Organizer of the party, Atinka FM and two other persons from KokrokoFM in Cape Coast.

In the writ of summons issued from Accra High Court date 19 May, 2017, it stated that ‘an action having been commenced against Mathew Botchwey and four others by the issue of this writ by Robert Kutin Jnr.

You are hereby commanded that within eight days after service of this Writ on you inclusive of the day of service you do cause an appearance to be entered for you, the summons said’

Mathew Botchwey and the other defendants are expected within eight days to enter their defense.

Robert Kutin was accused of extorting money from Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the Central Region and impeding the chances of others from becoming ministers.

Botchwey alleged in an interview with KokrokoFM that Kutin had taken Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis from a son of ‘Mercy Cream’.

Botchwey claimed the ‘modus operandi’ of his Chairman (Kutin) and trend is assuming a new dimension in the region where money has become the prerequisite requirement of one becoming a district Chief Executive. He said, Kutin since assuming office in 2013 become autocratic abhors dissenting views.

He attributed the rejection of both Assin South and Abura -Asebu Kwamankese District Chief Executive nominees to Chairman Robert Kutin.

According to him, Kutin managed to replace some of the nominees a day before the lists was published.

‘Upon all the opportunities given to Kutin by the President, he still impedes others progress. ‘He (Kutin) is the Chairman of Maritime, while his uncle is chairing the Getfund Board, but he did all he could to block the appointment of Chairman KK twice from serving as deputy minister in the region’-he alleged

‘Others are afraid of Kutin, but I Mathew have resolved to face Kutin everywhere to ensure that I rescue the party from him’. ‘Kutin is hurting the image of the party in that. I cannot allow him to continue that trend for the party to suffer in subsequent elections,’ California told a local radio station.

Meanwhile, Abdul Tarig Bonsu, the DCE aspirant reported to have parted with the bribe has rubbished allegations.

“If I have that GHC100,000 on me now, I would rather invest it in my business. It’s true that I presented my name for such position but was Okay when my name did not appear in the final list. I feel we’ll all have to support the party to propagate the good works by this government. Mr. Kutin has a reputation and I think it’s unfair to dent his image in such manner.”