Valerie Sawyerr makes Ghana politics funny, almost hypocritical - Agyarko

Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko has fired former Deputy Chief of Staff Dr Valerie Sawyerr for crying over her invitation to the Economic and Organized Crime Commission (EOCO).

In a post sighted by MyNewsGh.com, the NPP MP said he recalls also being harassed under the erstwhile NDC administration, with his passport seized.

“I have just read from a newspaper Dr Valerie Sawyerr complaining of harassment because she has been invited to EOCO, in a statement of claim to the court.” he began.

“Aww really. My passport was taken away from me for close to a year and reported at BNI and then on the same issues at EOCO for about 3 years,” he recalled.

“I figure this is the period she was Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency. Maybe just maybe she had no knowledge that these were happening during that period.” He jabbed.

“Real funny and almost hypocritical they make our politics” he added.

The background to this development is the emergence of a government-sanctioned forensic audit which revealed that the acquisition of helicopters worth over $100 million by Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) caused financial loss to the state because the choppers were never utilized.

Dr Valerie Sawyerr was a board member of Ghana Gas at the time.

The four Z-9EH helicopters bought from China for surveillance by Ghana Gas during the previous Mahama administration at the total cost of $100 million ($25m each) was commissioned by then President John Mahama in September 2015.

According to the forensic audit report, “The helicopters purchased from China National Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) have never been used for the purpose of its purchase, causing the state to lose $54,800,000”.

It also said a loss of $5,958,366.76 was incurred because “equipment for the helicopters were not delivered even though it was part of the contract price, while another loss of $300,000, being abnitio training cost not fully utilized for its intended purpose was caused, bringing the total to $61,058,366.76

The report mentioned that Ghana Gas Board Chairman Prof. Kwesi Botchwey; Dr. George Sipa-AdjaYankey, who was the CEO of the state-owned company; Eric Yankah; Thomas Manu and Valerie Sawyerr, a former deputy Chief of Staff, should be held responsible.

According to the report, there were procurement irregularities, totaling GH¢76,802,760.39 against Memphis Metropolitan Limited (GH¢34,452,650.22) and Kingspok Company Limited (GH¢42,351,110.17) in the contract.