M&J Bribery Scandal: Obed denies involvement

The founder of the Democratic Freedom Party, Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah, has reacted to the land mark ruling in a UK court in which a number of Ghanaian politicians have been named as having received bribes from a British Construction firm, Mabey and Johnson, in the 1980s and 1990s.

The name of Dr. Obed Asamoah, one time Attorney General and Minister of Justice was mentioned as someone the company attempted to influence.

In an interview on Sunday, however, Dr. Asamoah stated categorically: “I don’t know anything about this contract. I had no hand in the award of those contracts, so I was surprised to read that there were attempts to soften the hands of people like me”

The former Attorney General and Minister of Justice said, “I never met any officials of the company. No official of the company ever spoke to me.”

At any rate, asserted Dr. Asamoah, “you can’t influence me with money to approve a project. People who know me know that I can’t be influenced with money. If the project is sound and there is no corruption involved, and it is good for the country, you don’t need to approve it.”

Dr. Asamoah lauded the decision of President Mills to have the allegations investigated. “I definitely support government’s decision to set up the probe.”

A construction firm in the UK, Mabey and Johnson on Friday September 25, pleaded guilty to making some payments to the tune of £470,000 in bribes to some Ghanaian politicians in the 1980s and the 1990s.

Among several high profile public officials mentioned, the Health Minister Dr. Sipa Yankey was named as having received a total of £10,500, while former Works and Housing Minister in the erstwhile NPP regime Alhaji Sidique Boniface allegedly received some £500 for school fees while studying as a student in the UK.

Dr Ato Quarshie a former Works and Housing Minister was also named to have received a cheque for £55,000 in 1995.

One Mohammed Seidu and Edward Attipoe are also believed to have received £5,000 and £10,000 respectively.