The Information Minister, has a lot to do in convincing discerning Ghanaians, about the return of some funds allegedly “looted” from the coffers of the National Communications Authority (NCA) and paid as kickbacks to all former board members led by Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie.
Mustapha Hamid, according to insiders, wanted to revise weeks of bad publicity for the Akufo-Addo government, hence fell on a premature Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) probe, but his strategy has failed.
He wanted to undo reports of mass dismissals of workers from government institutions, the Bugri Naabu and Otiko clashes, confusion between the Defense and Environment Ministers over galamsey clash, non-availability of cash to meet some government expenditure, the US$2.2 billion Franklin Templeton Investments bond, poor sanitary conditions among others.
But so far, there have been two strong denials from two alleged recipients of the kickback. One of them, former NCA boss, William Tevie, has also put his lawyers in readiness to proceed to court, should Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid and others, refuse to apologize for their damning claims against him.
Meanwhile, gaping holes have also been punched into Mustapha Hamid’s claims, as well as the several publications by media outlets, especially the Daily Guide.
William Tevie, has also served notice to drag the newspaper owned by the New Patriotic Patty (NPP) acting National Chairman, Freddie Blay and his wife Gina Blay; Ghana’s Ambassador to Germany, to court, if it does not retract and apologize in a similar manner as the original publication, which he described as a “diabolically concocted” story.
Mr. Tevie, insisted all those who knew him well, can attest to his integrity.
Another board member of the NCA, Dr. Nana Owusu-Ensaw, also denied any involvement in the payment of monies to his former colleagues, in the supposed fraudulent contract the authority and Infraloks Development Limited.
It is not clear, if Dr. Nana Owusu-Ensaw, will want to head to court to have his reputation restored.
The Minister named William Tevie, former NCA Director; Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, former Board Chairman; one Alhaji Osman, former Deputy National Security Coordinator among others, as officials involved in the scandal.
Mustapha Hamid, had said an investigation by the current government revealed that the named officials had contracted an Israeli company, NSO Group Technology Limited, to supply listening equipment at the cost of $6 million, to enable National Security monitor conversations of persons suspected to be engaged in terror activities.
The Information Minister further revealed that a local agent, Infraloks Development Limited, was also charging $2 million to facilitate the transaction, bringing the total sum to $8 million.
But only $1 million was paid into the accounts of the Israeli company while the remaining $3 million was lodged into the accounts of one George Oppong, representing the local agents, Infraloks Development Limited.
That money was allegedly shared among the officials.
However, Mr. Tevie has denied involvement in a corruption scandal that has hit his tenure of office.
The former board chairman, Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, appears to be the only person now with the key to unravel the alleged scandal.
William Tevie, has denied ever admitting to allegations of corruption to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) as revealed by the government and reported by the Daily Guide newspaper and other media houses.
In a rejoinder to the Daily Guide newspaper’s editor, he described their story as mischievous and also demanded an immediate retraction, “failing which I will advise myself accordingly.”
“I have never, at any time, whether privately, before the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) or any state investigating agency, admitted that I, William Tevie, Former Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), accepted any money or monies, and which I have agreed to refund,” rejoinder added.
He explained that: “I was invited by the BNI and questioned about an allegation that some former Board Members of the NCA and I were given an amount of money to share. I categorically denied the allegation. If the alleged monies were given or received by anybody or group of persons, I am not aware and I was definitely not a party to it.”
A former Board Member of the NCA, Dr. Nana Owusu-Ensaw, also denied any involvement in the payment of monies to his former colleagues, in the supposed fraudulent contract the authority and Infraloks Development Limited.
News broke that former NCA officials allegedly withdrew $4 million from the accounts of the NCA and have failed to account for it.
The officials had contracted an Israeli company, NSO Group Technology Limited, to supply listening equipment at the cost of $6 million, to enable National Security monitor conversations of persons suspected to be engaged in terror activities.
A local agent, Infraloks Development Limited, was also charging $2 million to facilitate the transaction, bringing the total sum to $8 million.
Dr. Nana Owusu-Ensaw, in a statement released to the media today [Friday], May 26, 2017, denied any involvement in the deal, in which he’s alleged to have played a role in sharing an amount of $500,000 dollars among his colleagues.
He released the statement after his encounter with the BNI, where he had categorically told them that he never received any money in relation to the matter being investigated.
“In addition to the foregoing, Dr. Owusu-Ensaw is further prepared to cooperate with the authorities to get the bottom of the allegations” the statement added.
Mustapha Hamid Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, has told the media Government is determined to retrieve “every pesewa” wrongfully taken from the accounts of the National Communications Authority (NCA) by former Board members.
“Their goal is to retrieve as much of whatever was looted from the state as possible.” Mustapha Hamid explained that there is always the difficulty in getting the monies paid back into the state coffers when the culprits are prosecuted or even incarcerated.
Find below the full rejoinder
Rejoinder: NCA Boss To Refund $1.5m Cash
The banner headline of your May 16, 2017 publication, ‘NCA boss to refund $1.5m cash’ is not only false but diabolically concocted to mislead the reading public and tarnish my reputation.
I have never, at any time, whether privately, before the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) or any state investigating agency, admitted that I, William Tevie, Former Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), accepted any money or monies, and which I have agreed to refund.
I was invited by the BNI and questioned about an allegation that some former Board Members of the NCA and I were given an amount of money to share. I categorically denied the allegation.
If the alleged monies were given or received by anybody or group of persons, I am not aware and I was definitely not a party to it.
I hesitate to irresponsibly go into specifics because the transaction in question was handled by the National Security Council Secretariat because of its very sensitive nature.
Your reportage on the issue was not only mischievous but also smacked of ill motive. I am therefore demanding an immediate retraction and an unqualified apology to me failing which I will advise myself accordingly.
William Tevie
Former Director General
National Communications Authority
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