Ministry of information divert funds to PRO -NDC newspapers?

Mediawatch Research Associates is calling on the Economics and Financial Crimes Organisation(EOCO) to investigate corruption and theft at the Ministry of Information. We call on John Aklogu Tia, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Baaba Jamal to step aside and allow from impartial investigations into the diversion of state funds.

Professor John Evans Atta Mills NDC government is being sabotaged by the naked theft by Ministers at the Ministry of Information to divert state funds. We are deeply shocked by the spending of huge sums of money propping up some Ghanaian Newspapers and some media personalities without the knowledge of the President. Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information, a leading beneficiary of these monies and a man deeply steeped in the corrupt practices together with his boss John Tia and his colleague Baba Jamal.

This attitude of using state funds as personal property and distributing it without following proper accounting procedures is causing financial loss to the state according to our laws. This cannot be hidden in the dark and we make no apologies about it.

From a classified document, below is a summary of monies being paid to Pro NDC newspapers.

NEWSPAPERS

1.The Daily Post-20,000 dollars a month

2.The Informer-15,000 dollars a month, increased to 30,000 dollars from 1st of August,2011

3.The Enquirer-30,000 dollars a month

4.The Catalyst-12,000 dollars a month

5.The Insight-20,000 dollars a month plus 3 Isuzu Pick ups from the Tema Port.

6.The Daily Dispatch-15,000 dollars

7.The Ghanaian Lens-20,000 Dollars a month

In addition to the above, The following media personalities received monthly allowances and logistics.

Mr Allotey Jacobs-12,000 Dollars payed monthly plus free daily petrol coupons . Mr Raymond Archer-30,000 Dollars

Mr. Michael Dokosi-18,000 Dollars plus Toyota Avensis saloon.

Mr Kwesi Pratt-15,000 US Dollars a month plus free daily petrol coupons for 2 years

Ben Ephson-15,000 US dollars a month

Mr Kobby Fiagbe-15,000 US Dollars a month

Mr Kojo Twum Boafo-20,000 US Dollars a month

Dr Tony Aidoo-20,000 dollars a month

Mr. James Agyenim Boateng, -25,000 dollars a month

Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa- -30 ,000 dollars a month Mr.Stanislav Dogbe- 20,000 Dollars a month

What has emerged is that these ministers receive 5% of all the monies received by the newspapers resulting in a collective 15%.

We at mediawatch want the ministers to come forward and explain what this percentage is for and why state funds should be used to prop up private newspapers and individuals who are already being paid salary by the state. President Mills must not sit down and allow a few individuals in government to derail is governments agenda to bring prosperity to Ghanaians just to feed their selfish and vulgar interests.

Mrs Haleema Asana Kabore, Media Watch Research Associates

Additional information supplied by Paul K. Kaleku- Former Research Officer, Information Services Department, Ministry of Information (1992-2006)