President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Monday accepted the resignation from office of Mr Rockson Ayine Bukari, a Minister of State at the Office of the President.

A statement issued by the Communications Directorate of the Presidency said Mr Bukari tendered in his resignation to the President on Monday, April 29, 2019, because "he had taken note of a tape circulating in the media and had therefore taken the decision to resign in order not to make the tape disrupt the focus of government on delivering on its mandate."

Mr Bukari further stated in the letter that he resigned as a matter of principle, having "exercised judgement contrary to what I have known you to stand for and require of your servants in running this country."

The statement said the President accepted his resignation and wished him well in his future endeavours.

Mr Bukari, a former Upper East Regional Minister, has for the past three days been under the spotlight of the media after trending an alleged leaked recorded conversation between him and the Upper East Regional correspondent for EIB Network’s Starr FM, Edward Adeti, went viral.

The former Minister in the conversation allegedly attempted influencing the reporter with cash inducements and a motor bicycle to spike a story against judge and a Chinese mining company.