Government has rubbished as “distastefully” ludicrous accusation that it bugged the offices of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and doctored a leaked tape recording of a strategic meeting of the party’s hierarchy.
Addressing a news conference Thursday, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the government of Ghana does not bug offices and homes of political opponents as a matter of policy and practice.
“Indeed, it’s not the policy or the practice of government of Ghana to illegally interfere with the privacy or communication of persons or organisations in Ghana,” Mr Nkrumah said. “To do so will be an infringement on the constitutional provisions of privacy.”
The government therefore, “finds it distasteful that the said party [NDC] chooses to bring the name of the State into disrepute in its attempt to respond to queries about the validity and origins of the said conspiratorial conversations,” Mr Nkrumah added.
Mr Nkrumah’s comments come on the back of accusations by the NDC that it was of “evil and wicked” plots by certain elements within the National Security and government to spy on meetings of its officials, record and in turn doctor such recordings for their “spiteful ends.”
“Such state-sponsored espionage is dastardly and shameful,” the NDC’s Director of Communications Sammy Gyamfi said in a statement Wednesday as the party is believed to be considering all legal options available to it and other appropriate steps to halt “this phenomenon immediately.”
The leaked recording
The NDC’s National Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo in the said leaked tape was heard as of the largest opposition party’s strategy to regain power in 2020 lives of some members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) would be targeted.
“We will go after them,” he said.
He was also heard on the leaked tape at a meeting giving directive for the EC chairperson Jean Mensa “to be taken to the cleaners.”
He also endorsed the hurling of insults on the National Peace Council chairman Rev. Emmanuel Asante.
The NDC however, came out strongly denying the contents of the viral leaked tape. According to it, the tape was doctored and its content incongruous with the character of its chairman.
“The NDC states for the records that the statements and attributions contained on the said tape are concocted and false. They are inconsistent with the character and track record of Chairman Ofosu Ampofo and do not reflect the values he has always stood for. The maliciously depraved and clearly doctored tape has been contrived by some devious elements in the NPP and government to undermine the NDC and its National Chairman,” the party said.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
