Veteran Journalist and Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has mounted a spirited defense for former President John Dramani Mahama over claims he diverted about $13million from a private company, EO Group, meant for the development of the Western Region.

He disclosed on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on Thursday, June 2018 day that the claims of the petitioners who are calling for thorough investigations into the incident are just ‘myths’ as nothing of such had happened.

Late last week, the office of the former President in a statement issued and signed by Joyce Bawah Mogtari, also stated that the claims against the former president are the machinations of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“The above is obviously another false and dubious claim. Furthermore, the said petition is another orchestrated but failed attempt by the NPP Government to divert attention from the numerous corruption scandals suffocating it”, the statement said.

Mr Baako in defense of Mahama’s innocence said “It is not true that a payment of $13 million was required as a condition precedent for government’s consent. It’s not true, it doesn’t exist anywhere

He stressed “It is not true that E.O. Group were supposed to pay $13 million for corporate social responsibility to develop the Western Region. That is also not true. These are myths, nothing of the sort happened. I am saying so”, Mr Baako insisted, adding: “We have to be honest, we have to be fair to everybody in this game”, he told Host Randy Abbey.

It would be recalled that four Ghanaians, last week submitted a petition to Mr Martin Amidu’s office to investigate former President John Dramani Mahama for allegedly diverting the $13 million meant for the development of the Western Region from the E.O. Group.

Emmanuel Owusu, Eric Dumenu Akatsi, Peprah Kyei Baffour and Dawda Eric say, the money Mr Mahama then as Vice President creamed off the deal directly affected them as indigenes of the Western Region as it was meant for a project that would have served them.