GRA/SML deal: Always read the stories behind the headlines or you'd look stupid all the time — Miracles Aboagye on Fourth Estate's 'false' publication

Director of Local Government Services at the Office of the President, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has cautioned Ghanaians to always read the stories behind headlines to avoid being swayed by false publications.

He has criticised the Fourth Estate for publishing what he termed as a false and damaging report regarding the GRA/SML contract.

The Fourth Estate had levied accusations against Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), alleging various breaches in its contractual dealings.

In reaction, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed KPMG, an audit firm, to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

Addressing the issue on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Aboagye commended President Akufo-Addo for his bold decision to seek the truth through an independent audit firm like KPMG.

"What he has done is a testament to the kind of person that he is...it's a lot of boldness that will make a President take such a decision. You need a lot of boldness, confidence, courage before you say I should give a matter of this sort to KPMG," Aboagye lauded.

Expressing displeasure at the Fourth Estate's false publication, Aboagye questioned the media house's motives in fabricating stories to tarnish the image of SML, a Ghanaian-owned company.

He expresses worry the damage caused to SML's reputation and the wrong perception due to the false report, stressing the difficulty in erasing such perceptions even after the company he claims had been cleared of any wrongdoing.

"A lot of media guys have become mercenaries...They are for the highest bidder. Why do we even do this to ourselves?” he lamented.

Mr. Aboagye offered advice to Ghanaians to critically analyse the stories behind the headlines and not to blindly accept sensationalised reports.

"My advice to myself and all Ghanaians is that, in this country, always go and read the story behind the headlines. Again, always read the story behind the headlines; if you don't do that, you will constantly look stupid all the time," he cautioned.

"You can imagine the number of people who followed these things when they came up...When someone commits a wrongdoing, let's say it but we should stop the deliberate orchestration of evil. Orchestration of evil against some fellow citizens is problematic," he added.