The Upper West Regional Minister, Sahanun Mogtari has described as "total falsehood" a publication in a private newspaper that his daughter was acting as deputy minister for the region. According to him, the story was an attempt to divert his focus on development. "It is a machination by disgruntled opponents who seek not only to undermine me but also divert my attention from the pursuit of development for the region."

Mr Mogtari said this at a news conference at Wa to react to thepublications in the June 3 and 4 editions of the ?Independent? newspaper alleging that his daughter, Atea Mogtari, had assumed the position of the regional deputy minister and had been using an official car meant for that office.

The paper further wrote that he gave out an official car belonging to the office of the Co-ordinating Director to the regional NPP Chairman, among others.

He challenged the newspaper to prove its allegation that his daughter had been assigned a personal bodyguard and asked well meaning Ghanaians to cross check the facts with the regional police command, saying it was its (police) responsibility to assign official personal security.

Mr Mogtari said his daughter could not drive and if even she could, he would not allow her to use official cars as was alleged. "I have never and will never assign any official vehicle to my daughter or any member of my family for use. The vehicle in question is government property and would be used as such for that purpose," he explained.

The minister further denied that he gave an official car to the regional party chairman saying, the vehicle being referred to was given to security men from Tamale to maintain peace in the Wa township following last month's chieftaincy dispute. "In fact the NPP regional chairman is a self-made man and is known in the Upper West as one of the very few private persons owning a fleet of cars.?