Minority calls for halt to government's smear campaign

The Minority in Parliament on Monday accused the government of spinning of a smear campaign against vociferous members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr John Tia, Deputy Minority Whip In Parliament, in a statement said it was: "increasingly becoming clear that some highly placed government officials are orchestrating a smear campaign of some sort against Minority NDC Members of Parliament".

He said "at the beginning of July this year, sections of the private media reported a scheme targeted at a so-called Bad Boys Company (BBC) among NDC members of Parliament".

Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, MP Wenchi West, was the first victim of the "Operation-Gag-the-Critic" when he was trumped up with charges of impropriety in the award of contracts in his Techiman North Constituency.

He claimed that unfolding events exonerated Mr Asiedu-Nketia. He said attempts were also made to smear the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin by raking his past at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHAPOHA), where once served as a Board Member.

Mr Tia said when no wrongdoing was found, an investigator was despatched to Nadowli North Constituency of the Upper West Region "to shop for some incriminating evidence that could be used against the Minority Leader."

He said that attempt did not yield much yet the "pro-government Accra Daily Mail" splashed a story with a huge banner headline: 'Bagbin's Ethics' in the 29July edition of the paper. Mr Tia said; "the Minority is aware that there are similar smear schemes in the offing for other vocal Minority MPs such as Abraham Kofi Asante, Moses Asaga, John Mahama and Doe Adjajo."

Mr Tia said the Minority would continue to carry out its role as faithful watchdogs of the people to carry out its constitutional duties and would not be deterred by any conspiracy to smear the reputation of its members.