Government trying to cover up ‘mess’ at Ghana Maritime Authority – NDC MP

Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament, Kwame Governs Agbodza has accused the government of trying to cover up for the Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Kwame Owusu who has been accused of a number allegations including conflict of interest.

Mr. Owusu has been accused of blowing an amount of GH¢135,125 on an end-of-year party for staff and another GH¢10,652 on food at Luxe Suites Hotel, a facility he allegedly owns.

He was also accused of spend\ing GH¢1 million to renovate his official residence, fixing 11 air conditioners.

He has, however, refuted all the allegations.

But Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah directed the governing board of the Authority to investigate the allegations, a directive which has raised eyebrows among the public.

The Adaklu MP thinks the directive of the sector minister is not right.

“The Minister erred by asking [the] board to investigate the matter,” he said on TV3’s News @10 on Monday.

“The minister asking the board to investigate itself is wrong,” he reiterated, noting that the parliamentary select committee he is a ranking member of is clothed with the power to invite the minister for questioning.

He wondered why that is not happening but rather the board of the Ghana Maritime Authority being asked to investigate itself in a situation he described as “getting out of hand”.

He claims the government is only trying to “cover up the GMA boss because he is a senior person in the [New Patriotic] Party”.

He thus called on President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo to intervene in the matter and stop “creating a mess at KNUST”.

“The earlier the presidents take the bull by the horn, the better,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Parliament’s Select Committee on Roads and Transport has stated it is early days yet for members to go into the allegations levelled against Mr Owusu.

"This gives the indication that the Committee will not take a voluntary decision to probe the GMA boss".