RE: Ministers Selling State Lands To Chinese Companies Must Resign

My attention has been drawn to a story with the above headline posted on Ghanaweb, February 21, 2012 by a group describing itself as Mediawatch Research Associates which alleges among other things that I, Emmanuel Kofi Buah, Deputy Minister for Energy and MP for Ellembele and another Minister, Alhaji Collins Dauda have sold 100 acres of government lands in the Brong Ahafo and Western Region to a Chinese company-HuangDong Construction and Mining Company- and in the process received payments of over 300,000 dollars.

The story further alleges that I have been made a Non-Executive Director by the said company on a monthly payment of 10,000 dollars.

I wish to state categorically that there is no iota of truth in the story that is maliciously calculated to destroy my image and hard-won reputation as the elected representative of the Ellembele Constituency and Deputy Minister of State.

For the records and for the avoidance of any doubt, let me state categorically that I have never facilitated the sale nor sold government lands in the Evalue-Gwira Constituency or any part of the country to any Chinese company.

For this reason, I have never received the said payment as alleged in the story and do not serve as Non-Executive Director of any Chinese Company.

My oath of office and my personal philosophy would not permit me to do as such. I challenge the so-called Mediawatch Research Associates to do the ethical thing by providing that hard evidence that will prove beyond any doubt that I have indeed facilitated the sale or sold any government land to Chinese Company. It must never be enough for individuals or organisations to publish allegations of such nature without evidence or proof on the Ghanaweb which has global viewership. It is also sad to note that such publications can be allowed on Ghanaweb when the authenticity, physical location of the group, contact information of groups publishing the story is unknown.

I will urge Mediawatch Research Associates in the national interest to present their evidence of my supposed involvement in the said activity to the security agencies or do the right thing by retracting the story and apologise. I reserve the right to pursue justice to clear my name.

Emmanuel Kofi Buah MP Ellembelle Constituency Deputy Minister of Energy