General News of Friday, 3 August 2001

Source: GNA

Journalists demand apology from Wereko-Brobby

The Ethics Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association on Thursday demanded an unqualified apology from Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, Special Adviser on Energy, following an unsubstantiated bribery allegation he made against journalists.

The committee said in a statement that Dr Wereko-Brobby should retract the allegation since he has not been able to name the culpable journalist(s) and to substantiate his charge.

The committee was authorised to investigate Dr Wereko-Brobby's allegation on July 3 on JOY FM's "Super Morning Show" that some journalists had collected bribes in the "Sahara Affair".

The statement said Dr Wereko-Brobby admitted before the committee on July 18 that he was fully aware of the implication of his statement.

"At the meeting Dr Wereko-Brobby was unwilling to provide specific evidence of bribery to support his allegation but gave leads that needed further investigation by the committee".

It said the committee's follow-ups on the leads were unsubstantiated.

The statement said Dr Wereko-Brobby's inability to name the culpable journalist had "sullied the reputation of journalists in Ghana".

The committee's Chairperson is Mrs Frances Ademola with other members as Mr Kafui Asem, Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Dr Anthony Bonnah Koomson and Mr Kweku Rockson.

The rest are Mr Kwasi Afriyie Badu, Mr Frank Kludje (Member Secretary) and Mr Bright Blewu (Member-Liaison).