Stealing under incorruptible Akufo-Addo’s gov’t worse than Airbus Scandal – Manasseh

Celebrated freelance investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni has noted that even though the “stealing” being supervised by the incorruptible Akufo-Addo is worse than the Airbus Scandal”, authorities of state rather “go around harassing small and struggling businesses for tax and closing them down.”

His comments follow a debate in Parliament on plans by government to grant Platinum Properties Limited, several tax exemptions amounting to nearly $24 million to develop the Pullman Accra Airport City Hotel and Serviced Apartments project in Airport City, Accra.

But the award-winning journalist and anti-corruption campaigner wondered how many private investors in hotels have had such exemptions, accusing the government of engaging in family and friends capitalism and the transfer of state wealth to private persons.

“This naked “stealing” being supervised by the incorruptible Akufo-Addo is worse than the Airbus scandal. Yet, they’ll go around harassing small and struggling businesses for tax and closing them down. Is any private person building a hotel in Accra entitled to such tax waivers? What’s special about this one beyond the family and friends capitalism and the transfer of state wealth to private persons by those in power?” He wondered.

The Minority in Parliament has kicked against the request to grant tax waivers to the company, insisting that there is nothing special about the construction of a hotel in Accra and that the move is meant to enrich people with taxpayers’ money