GII report on abuse of incumbency is "bogus" – Kofi Boah

The deputy Energy Minister, Kofi Buah has described as “bogus” a report by anti graft body, Ghana Integrity Initiative citing some government officials of abusing incumbency.

According to Mr. Buah, GII is on an agenda to destroy some NDC officials and Parliamentary candidates ahead of the December elections.

GII on Thursday accused some government appointees of abusing incumbency ahead of the December elections in a report.

The NGO claimed that government appointees ranging from District Chief Executives to Ministers were seen either using state resources for personal and party political activities or turning public functions into political functions.

Executive Director of the GII, Vitus Azeem who read out some of the abuses at a press conference, cited appointees in the Bono Ahafo, Volta, Western, Eastern and Central Regions of abusing incumbency the most.

Deputy Energy Minister Kofi Boah was allegedly mentioned as turning the inauguration of a Common Fund sponsored shed for a certain community into a political event.

Mr. Vitus Azeem also indicted Eastern regional Minister Victor Smith who is the aspiring MP for Abuakwa North as well as his main contender of the NPP J.B Dankwa to have done things that suggested they wanted to buy votes.

But speaking on XYZ News, Mr. Kofi Buah who is also the MP for Ellembelle questioned the credibility of the report challenging the GII to come out with evidence to prove those Common funds sponsored functions were turned into a party event.

“They [GII] lied to the people of Ghana…this was not a common fund project, the report is very bogus and it is intended to destroy me politically but it is not going to work” Mr. Buah said.

He added that “the report is intended to smear the NDC parliamentary candidates, they clearly have a political agenda and we must expose them”.