Mahama must apologise to Ghanaians for accepting Ford gift - Analyst

President John Dramani Mahama has been advised to apologise to Ghanaians for accepting a Ford Expedition worth $100,000 gift from a private Burkinabe contractor.

Policy Analyst, Dr. Thomas Buabeng, says the President’s action violates the code of conduct governing public officers.

“I expect the President to come out boldly and apologise to the entire citizenry because he got it wrong. President John Mahama must accept his fault and take responsibilities,” he said.

Dr. Buabeng was speaking with Afia Pokua on Adom FM’s current affairs programme “Burning Issues”, Wednesday.

He was reacting to investigations by Joy News’ Manasseh Azure Awuni which revealed the President received a Ford Expedition in 2012 from Burkinabe contractor, Mr Djiril Kanazoe.

“The President must come out and say that I’m sorry, I had it wrong for accepting the vehicle” Dr. Buabeng stated.

“Manasseh’s expose´ it’s a very dark story for Ghana as a country which shows that we have more to do” he stressed.

Joy News' investigations have revealed that President Mahama was given a brand new Ford Expedition in 2012 by the contractor who won the bid to construct the $650,000 Ghana Embassy Wall in the Burkina Faso capital, Ouagadougou.

According to reports, in 2014 Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) ordered the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to investigate the transaction when the cost of the project came up.

But checks by Joy News reveal the Bank did not undertake the investigation. The contractor in question is the same person who also won the bid to construct the recently commissioned Dodo-Pepeso section of the Eastern Corridor Road.

Joy News’ checks also show there are moves to award him a ¢82 million contract on sole sourcing.

Government in a statement issued by Communications Minister, Edward Omane Boamah said though the car was received, it had nothing to do with the contract awarded to Djibril Kanazoe.

But Dr. Buabeng believes that the President has violated the code of conduct of public officials.

He also warned the opposition parties and communicators of the ruling government not to politicize the issue.

Dr. Buabeng called on Ghanaians to congratulate Manasseh Azure Awuni for this exposé.