Accra, March 15, GNA - Dr Nicholas Westcott, British High Commissioner to Ghana, has said that the Government of Ghana has not received any money from Mabey and Johnson (M and J).

He explained that even though as part of the conclusion of a court case in the United Kingdom, some money was to be paid to Ghana as compensation following the alleged bribery of some Ghanaian officials, the money has not been paid to the Government of Ghana.

Dr Nicholas Westcott said "It is for the Government of Ghana to indicate whether it wishes to receive the money or not". A statement issued on Monday and signed by the Minister of Information, John Tia Akologu, said that Dr Westcott in a telephone conversation with Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also clarified that "John Hardy Queen's Counsel (QC), who visited Ghana last week, spoke on this subject purely in his capacity as a private lawyer involved with the case."

Mr. Hardy, according to Dr. Westcott, is neither an official of the British Serious Fraud Office nor the British Government and he was expressing his personal views, not those of the British Government. Speaking to Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa, Dr Westcott confirmed the historic friendship and solidarity between Ghana and Britain.

They expressed the hope that these ties should not be affected by the inaccurate statements of Mr. Hardy.