General News of Saturday, 7 February 2004

Source: .

Scandal At President's Office: Deputy Minister Resigns

Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs Alhaji Moctar Musah Bamba has resigned. He has admitted to indiscretion in his business dealings.

A statement issued by Information Minister, Nana Akomea said President Kufuor has accepted his resignation, but added that the resignation is without prejudice to any further Police investigation into the allegations leveled against him.

Alhaji Bamba is alleged to be involved in the forgery of signatures of ministers of state on letterheads originating from the President’s office as government guarantee of loans for Emrate Investment Limited, a privately owned company to which he is a director.

Alhaji Bamba is alleged to be running Emrate Investment Limited together with a former NPP Parliamentary candidate, Raymond Akuffo. He has also been accused of flouting a constitutional provision that prevents ministers from holding a position in a private enterprise or any private business.

The government statement did not however touch on whether the deputy minister admitted to those allegations even though he told the Statesman newspaper that his involvement with Emrate was out of poor judgement.