Mahama, Alex Mould lack understanding of ‘State Capture’ – Gabby

Private legal practitioner Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has said that the use of ‘State Capture’ by former President John Dramani Mahama and the former CEO of GNPC to describe President Akufo-Addo-led government’s involvement in the ongoing PDS saga is unwarranted.

He says he doubts whether the former president and his cohorts have an accurate understanding of what ‘State Capture’ actually means and its relation to the ongoing PDS saga.

“Mahama, Alex Mould and co have found and borrowed a new phrase from South Africa: “state capture.” I am not sure that they fully understand it otherwise they would not use it. Unless of course they are using it liberally because by their definition they are referring to the NPP electorally capturing and freeing the state from the promoters of “create, loot and share,” in the famous words of Ghana’s Supreme Court,” his full post read.

Prior to the termination of the PDS contract with the government of Ghana, former president Mahama and some influential members of the opposition NDC had described the handling of the issues as shambolic and very disappointing.

The former president is quoted to have used ‘State Capture’ to particularly describe the constantly reeling economic state under the Akufo-Addo governance with respect to the ECG-PDS deal.

Part of Mr Mahama’s Facebook post read, “…Let me emphasise that, all these shady happenings were avoidable if the right decisions, with the future development of Ghana in mind, were taken, and not parochial decisions that reflect the sad and worsening situation of state capture that we are experiencing under Akufo-Addo…”

In a similar instance, the former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation stated that the PDS debacle can only be thought of a well-calculated ‘State Capture’.

He wrote, “If this is not a case of “good” governance gone bad in a well thought out state capture scheme by the forces that be in the bid to engage a private sector company as a concessionaire for its operational and financial turnaround, then I do not know what it is.”

But Mr Otchere Darko has argued that unless the aforementioned personalities were using the word to describe the economic freedom the ruling NPP has achieved for Ghanaians, it has no basis.

Adding that the NDC embarked on a “create, loot and share” agenda while in government to amass wealth for themselves at the expense of the state.

Reactions

Gabby’s post did not go unnoticed as some people have shared varied opinions on their stance with regards to its relevance.

Below are some reactions on Facebook and Twitter;