NDC capo in lying scandal

NDC CAPO IN LYING SCANDAL *Over Concord report

The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has spun a web of lies which has attracted the wrath of the management of the independent television station, Metro TV, on him.

Checks by this newspaper indicate that the TV station is livid over what it sees as the intransigence of the NDC capo in withdrawing a false and slanderous statement he made on air last Thursday that the Chief of Staff, Mr Kwadwo Mpianim, was reported by the GYE NYAME CONCORD newspaper, to have plotted to assassinate National Security Minister, Mr Francis Poku.

Despite evidence that the CONCORD never reported what he claimed to have read in the newspaper, Afriyie Ankrah, sources say, is insisting that he would not withdraw nor apologise over the statement, compelling management of the TV station to inform him that they would not allow him to mislead its viewers and attract unnecessary legal battles for them.

This follows information that the Chief of Staff is heading to the courts over the alleged defamatory comment made on the “Good Morning Ghana” programme.

Sources say he has already given directives to one of the notable legal firms in the country to sue both Afriyie Ankrah and Metro TV for defamation over the issue.

Information gathered from the TV station indicates that the TV station is set to inform the NDC to nominate a new person on the Thursday edition of the programme if Ankrah insists on having his way with his false statement.

Reached on phone to ascertain his position on the directive by Metro that he should apologise for misusing the platform offered by the station’s newspaper review programme to peddle a lie, Mr. Ankrah, said that he had no intention of rendering an apology on the subject and that he is waiting for a call from the producer of the programme, as he always does, and that if he does not receive the call, then he will not appear on the show tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

When told the station would demand that he either backs his allegation or withdraw it, Ankrah said “If that is what they (Metro TV) are looking for, then I would wish them good luck. My brother, I would wish them well if they insist I retract the story before returning to the programme”. Mr. Ankrah stressed.

The producer of the “Good Morning Ghana” programme, Mr. Famous Kwesi Atitsogbe, explained to the paper that Ankrah during last Thursday show passed a comment alleging that Mr. Mpianim was reported by the CONCORD to have plotted to assassinate Mr. Francis Poku.

According to him, when the host, Mr. Michael Ketahena, and Managing Editor of The Crusading Guide and co-panellist on the programme, Mr. Kweku Baako Jnr., drew his attention to the seriousness of the allegation and advised him to withdraw or substantiate the allegation, Mr. Ankrah remained adamant.

He insisted that the CONCORD newspaper carried the story about a month ago.

According to the show’s producer, after a long argument, the host of the programme let go off the comment.

According to the producer, the Chief of staff, who was reportedly watching the programme called the Manager of the station to draw his attention to the slanderous nature of the comment and suggested to him to prepare for a writ from the court since the statement was unfounded.

“My Director called me and asked if Mr. Ankrah was still there but he had then left, so l called him and informed him to retract the comment in order not to involve Metro in any legal battle, but he has refused”, Famous said.

He explained further that after Ankrah turned down the request of the Director to retract his comments, the Director of the station, Alhaji Alhassan Haruna, instructed the producer to make sure that Ankrah either substantiates his allegation or retract the comment before appearing on the programme.

A subsequent publication by the Lens newspaper however gave a different twist to the issue and sought to suggest that Mpianin had called and directed Metro TV to pull Ankrah off the programme because he had been disabling Kweku Baako on the show; an allegation Mr Baako described as childish when reached.

Interestingly, Mr Baako has been insisting that Metro maintains Ankrah on the show, since in his opinion he hardly add any value to the fortunes of his party by such serious gaffs.

Asked if Ankrah will feature on this Thursday programme, the producer of the programme said: “As we speak he has not retracted the comment he made about Mr. Mpianim, but I’ll call my boss tomorrow evening to inquire if the directive he gave still holds, so I cannot tell you now whether he is appearing or not.”

The Lens also suggested in its report that Ankrah’s withdrawal from the programme, if it should come on, would be a confirmation of a grandstanding agenda of the ruling NPP to axe critical NDC minds off Metro TV and GTV.

Significantly, nowhere in any report carried by the CONCORD had the newspaper mentioned or alluded to any assassination being plotted by the Chief of Staff.

The report in the CONCORD, which Ankrah lied on, cited a letter written to the National Security Minister, Mr. Francis Poku, threatening him.

In that report, the CONCORD said some yet-to-be-identified plotters had written to the Minister threatening to execute him should he continue to thwart their numerous efforts to have their way in Ghana.

The paper also reported that the Minister was aware of the plot and that as part of measures to stay alive, the man, who used to go about his duties without security personnel now moves with a security convoy.

The report, however, noted that it was difficult to identify those behind the threat, and further revealed that the minister, as part of several security measures to beef-up his personal and national defence, has reshuffled his security detail, with some security staff getting the sack.

The newspaper named two of the personnel who were said to be leaking classified information and reported they were recently detained for days and later discharged.