Statement: P.V. Obeng not a board member of Agams holding

Local IT giant, Rlg Group and Agams Holdings have denied claims by the Executive Director of policy group Danquah Institute that the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, P.V. Obeng is a member of the Board of Directors of Keta Salt Industrial Estates, a subsidiary of Agams Holding.

Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko made the claim on Joy FM’s news analysis programme ‘Newsfile’ on Saturday.

The claim was confirmed by a member of the governing National Democratic Congress’ communication team, Chris Ackumey who also said on the programme that he is also a member of the same Board.

P.V. Obeng, who has been tasked by the president to review an investigative report on the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA), was therefore accused by Mr. Otchere-Darko of conflict of interest based on his alleged membership of the Keta Salt Industrial Estates’ Board.

However, the Group Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs of the Rlg Group and Agams Holding, Prosper Harrison Addo, has in a statement described the claim as unfounded and therefore demanded a retraction.

Below is the full statement

RE: GYEEDA SAGA - P.V. OBENG ACCUSED OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST The attention of Rlg Group of Companies Limited and Agams Holdings Limited (formerly Agams Group) has been drawn to comments made by leading NPP Member and Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko on the August 10, 2013 edition of NEWSFILE on Joy FM and Joy News on Multi TV which has also been published by myjoyonline.com, peacefmonline.com and ghanaweb.com and on other media platforms.

Mr. Otchere-Darko stated that “if you have P.V Obeng being a board member of a company owned by AGAMS Company and AGAMS Company is deeply involved in this case, then how can we trust P.V Obeng?. It’s a conflict of interest, clearly” and went further to add that “I am raising a serious issue of principle”. We wish to state categorically:

1. that Rlg Group of Companies Limited, Agams Holdings Limited and their Board Chairman, Mr. Roland Agambire does not owe any share in Keta Salt Industrial Estates and has no investment or business relationship with the said company.

2. that Mr. P.V Obeng is neither a board member nor a Board Chairman of Rlg Group of Companies Limited or Agams Holdings Limited or any of their subsidiaries or for that matter any company owned by Mr. Roland Agambire.

3. that a simple search online would have revealed the facts as published by myjoyonline.com on January 31, 2013 with the heading “Keta Industrial Salt Estate to be established this year”.

4. Consequently, we hereby demand a retraction of the said publication.

We wish to caution against the hasty quest by individuals to “at all cost” find faults with Ghanaians companies where there are none. We also wish to advice the media and social commentators to cross-check their facts before making comments that affect the reputation of companies or their owners.

Issued in Accra, Monday, August 12, 2013 Prosper Harrison Addo, Esq. (Group Head, Legal & Corporate Affairs)