Lands and Natural resources Minister-designate Samuel Abu Jinapor has dismissed claims that he used his office as Deputy Chief of Staff to extort money from business people who wanted to meet President Akufo-Addo during his first tenure.
The outspoken Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyepong, alleged in 2017 that presidential staffers including Mr Jinapor and his colleague Asenso Boakye demanded $20,000 from an unnamed investor who wanted to see the President.
Mr Agyepong said though the president was unaware of such happenings in his office, some of his staff were busy using their presence to extort monies from people who want to invest in the economy.
“Abu Jinapor and Asenso-Boakye are not the only two alleged to be involved in corrupt activities at the presidency, they are many others as well. When I started complaining about the president being surrounded by sycophants and corrupt people I had people calling me to stop making those allegations.
“I was there and these same people called me back to tell me that they wanted to have access to the president and they were asked to pay $20,000 thereabout before a meeting can be arranged between them and the president, why should it be so,” he said on Accra-based Oman FM.
Responding to the claim during his vetting in Parliament Wednesday, the new lawmaker said the claims against him are without foundation.
“Let me state here and again respectfully that Akufo-Addo’s presidency is not a transactional presidency”.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
