2016 in Ghana has seen its fair share of happy moments, successes and of course a good number of scandals.
YEN.com.gh takes one last look back at 5 of the biggest scandals that hit the country this year. Not only were they grave, but they also etched a nasty scar in the hearts of many Ghanaians.
1. 6th March Brochure scandal
During Ghana’s 59th Independence Day celebration at the Black Star Square in March, the official brochure which was distributed was found to contain several errors.
Aside the false description of Ghana, the brochure was characterised by incomprehensible grammatical expressions, poor spellings and a host of other inaccuracies; provoking public outrage.
Among the many mistakes in the brochure was the representation of Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, as the President of Ghana.
Ghanaians cried out for the head of the “responsible party” but were only given an apology letter.
2. Mahama Ford Expedition scandal
In June 2016, Multimedia’s investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure exposed a Ford Expedition vehicle that was gifted to President John Mahama by a Burkinabe contractor, Djibril Kanazoe.
The estimated cost of the vehicle was $60,000 and the revelation provoked widespread public outrage.
The businessman was said to have won two contracts worth over GH¢100 million after the president took possession of the vehicle.
The development prompted several opposition political parties and civil society organisations to accuse President Mahama of receiving a bribe and asked for his head. He (president Mahama), however denied any wrongdoing.
3. Woyome 2nd contract scandal
Embattled businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the man at the centre of the controversial GHc51 million judgment debt found himself in another scandal; shockingly of a similar characteristic.
Pressure group, OccupyGhana raised a red flag over a second lucrative GHc35 million deal Woyome benefited from the state through its subsidiary company, Anotor Holding.
According to OccupyGhana, there exists a framework agreement dated 21st December 2015, for Anator Holding to develop deep seaports (including) industrial parks and green townships in Ghana.
This new discovery enraged Ghanaians who felt their intelligence had been insulted.
4. Montie 3 scandal
A radio host with the Accra-based Montie FM Salifu Maase and two panelists, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako-Gunn were found guilty for scandalizing the court and threatening judges and subsequently sentenced to four months in prison.
Barely a month after being in jail, the three, after a serious bombardment of petitions to the president were freed.
This caused a scandal all over Ghana where many felt the president should not have interfered in what was the decision of the highest court in the country.
The threats, the imprisonment of the panelists and their controversial release stirred the country in heated debated for several weeks.
5. EC Disqualification scandal
When Mrs. Charlotte Osei announced in a press conference that 13 out of 17 possible presidential candidates had been disqualified from contesting in the December 7 elections, the whole country went upside down with shock.
Many Ghanaians were especially worried that some presidential candidates such as the PPP’s Papa Kwesi Ndoum and the NDP’s Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings were not going to be in the race.
However, a decision by the supreme court overturned this decision and political parties were given a second chance to make changes and resubmit their forms.
2016 was definitely an eventful year; one laced with some successes and a few scandals. The New Patriotic Party has promised to ease the worries of Ghanaians with better policies.
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