The Objective Media Forum has issued a statement slamming what it terms as unsubstantiated allegations against Sammy Awuku and his wife.

The statement issued by the Forum which is aimed at protecting individuals working hard for the country said, “we are strongly opposed to the growing trend of unsubstantiated allegations against, hard-working young politicians who have worked so hard to build a strong reputation for themselves and the country.’’

According to the statement, the allegations of Sammy Amuku’s wife grabbing contracts at the Ghana Free Zones Authority and the accompanying facts were distorted.

The group, however, called on Sammy Awuku to disregard the claims and focus on delivering on his core mandate; adding "…we believe Sammy Awuku is a strong and young brilliant politician whose exploits can be compared to globally celebrated politicians like Julius Malema, of South Africa.’’

Read below the full statement

The objective media forum wishes to express our utmost disgust at the frivolous allegations levelled against Sammy Awuku over claims that, his wife has grabbed juicy contracts. We are strongly opposed to the growing trend of unsubstantiated allegations against, hard working young politicians who have worked so hard to build a strong reputation for themselves and the country.

In the case of Sammy Awuku, we were deeply scandalized at the allegations and wish to call on Ghanaians to desist from attacking the integrity of individuals for their own parochial interest. We have read and believe the story published by Ghana Palaver, was written with distorted facts in order to paint the young politician in a bad light.

This is an attempt to also cast a slur on the Executive Secretary of the GFZA and mischievously discredit his manner of steering the affairs of the GFZA. We wish to also refer to the statement issued by the GFZA and state that, we are in support of the facts outlined in the statement. What is wrong if Sammy Awuku's wife won a contract? Did she not go through laid down procedures and was lawfully selected to offer her professional services? As stated by GFZA, management decision was taken to provide lunch for staff of the GFZA.

Accordingly, a number of caterers were sourced who bid to provide the service and due process was followed in determining the four most competitive of caterers to provide the service on rotational bi-weekly basis. A Food Committee was constituted, made up of representatives of GFZA Staff Welfare Association who drew up criteria for evaluating proposals received from the caterers and handled the entire process.

JAESM Catering Services, of which Mrs. Mary Awuku is associated, did indeed put in a bid and ranked third after evaluation. Contracts were consequently signed in April, 2017 between the GFZA and the four catering services who ranked tops in the evaluation process. Suffice it to say that from April 2017 when the provision of lunch was instituted, JAESM Catering provided the said services for a total of four weeks based on the rotational timetable and served notice on the GFZA withdrawing their service beginning August, 2017.

With that period, JAESM was paid a total amount of GHS15,764.00. The second fact as posited by the state agency said: Upon assumption of duty of the new management, the re-structuring and re-alignment of the GFZA was carried to fit the new strategic direction of the Authority. This included expansion and opening of regional offices in the Western and Ashanti Regions of the Country to cater for free zone enterprises in the western, middle and northern zones of the country.

To this end, staff had to be recruited to taking care of staffing needs of the regional offices. Due process was followed and the bases of all appointments were the qualifications that were fit for purpose.

We hereby request that the Palaver newspaper retracts the publication and renders an unqualified apology for the misleading publication. In conclusion, we believe Sammy Awuku is a strong and young brilliant politician whose exploits can be compared to globally celebrated politicians like Julius Malema, of South Africa. We call on him to focus on his core duty and ignore the distractions.