The Ashanti Regional Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Kofi Yandoh, has dismissed claims that former GIHOC Distilleries Managing Director, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, unlawfully retained state-owned vehicles retrieved by police.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey on Tuesday, July 1, Mr. Yandoh argued that Mr. Jumah rightfully acquired the vehicles through established legal procedures, insisting the matter has been unfairly portrayed.
“The issue is that he is the former MD and per his conditions of service, he can purchase the vehicle of which ether are laid down rules and procedures for purchasing such vehicles. One, you need to obtain board approval, he has it and I can show it to you. Two, there should be an evaluation by STC with a stated amount, I can show it to you because he did and there should be a transfer of GIHO to his personal needs, of which he has done it.,” Yandoh explained.
He described suggestions that Mr. Jumah “stole” the vehicles as unfortunate and misleading, questioning why the matter escalated to an arrest when all due processes had been followed.
“So there are internal processes that are laid down for somebody to purchase so it’s not like he ash stolen the cars as being circulated, which is unfortunate. So it’s not that he was supposed to hand over, he knew that he done the necessary procedure or action, so why must he done over?”
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service says investigations are ongoing following the retrieval of three state-owned vehicles from Mr. Jumah.
He was arrested on Sunday, June 29, at a private residence in Kumasi, where he was reportedly celebrating his birthday, and later transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Accra for questioning.
At a press briefing, the Director-General of the CID, DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, confirmed the arrest, stating it followed a formal petition from GIHOC Distilleries alleging that Mr. Jumah unlawfully retained company vehicles after leaving office.
She revealed that three of the missing vehicles had been successfully recovered, with efforts underway to trace any outstanding assets linked to the case.
This latest development follows an earlier attempt by security operatives on May 15 to retrieve state-owned vehicles from Mr. Jumah’s residence, though he was reportedly not present at the time.
The police have assured the public that investigations are ongoing and updates will be provided in due course.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
