Road Minister wants journalist probed over Ghc25, 000

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako Attah, is requesting the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to launch investigation into an allegation of corruption and bribe taking that has been associated with his name and office.

The allegations were made on live television through a phone call by a female landlady who claimed that she had been swindled by a radio presenter, Captain Smart. She alleged that Mr Smart collected various sums of money from her under the pretence of giving it to the Minister.

According to the Minister, his attention was drawn to the alleged act of the radio presenter when the woman called into the ‘SEAT programme’ on NET 2 TV about a week ago to make her case.

The woman claimed that Captain Smart had tricked her into parting with GH₵25,000.00, which he allegedly promised was to be used to influence the Roads and Highways Minister to take a certain decision in her favour concerning a building project.

Request

Mr Amoako Atta, through his lawyer, in a letter dated Monday, August 23, 2021, and addressed to the CID, Police Headquarters, urged the investigative body to cause full blown investigation into the allegation made by the woman. The audio clip of the woman’s submission on air was also attached the letter.

“Our instructions are that about a week or so ago, it was brought to the attention of our Client that his name had been mentioned in connection with an allegation of corruption aired on one FM radio station. Our Client says that he eventually listened to the clip and found that one Captain Smart who is a popular radio presenter is deemed to have collected some money from a woman for the benefit of our Client,” the letter signed by lawyer Francis K. Yeboah read in part.

It added: “Our client says that he is appalled by the allegation therein which apart from its criminal connotations ii also defamatory to the integrity of our Client, a matter that we may deal with at the Civil Court.

“At this stage, we have been instructed to formally bring to your attention the clip and respectfully pray that you cause a full investigation to be conducted into the allegation contained in the clip not only for the name and the long standing integrity of our Client to be cleared, but also any perpetrator to be dealt with in accordance with law.”