The Ethics Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has demanded an apology from Government’s Energy Advisor, Dr. Wereko Brobbey for tainting the reputation of Ghanaian journalists. Mr. Brobbey had accused journalists of taking bribes from opponents to investigate circumstances surrounding government’s award of the country’s oil lifting contract to Sahara Oil Company of Nigeria.
The GJA made the call after he had failed to provide sufficient evidence to show that some journalists had been bribed to investigate the deal.
A statement signed by the Chairperson of the Committee, Francess Ademola noted that the Energy Advisor, was given the opportunity to appear before the committee to substantiate his allegations but he was however unwilling and unable to provide specific evidence of any journalist who had been bribed to investigate the Sahara deal.
He however lodged complaints, which were investigated by an independent panel set up by the committee but the accusations were found to be baseless. The committee concluded that by failing to substantiate his claims he should retract his statements.
The Sahara deal has generated debates, with journalists lashing at the government for lack of transparency in the contract. In the wake of the heated debates, the Energy advisor branded journalists as having received bribes to demand investigations into the contract.
