Abodakpi thanks Kufuor for his freedom

Freed MP for Keta, Mr. Dan Abodakpi says he is thankful to President J. A. Kufuor for granting him pardon from prison.

Mr. Abodakpi was serving a 10-year jail term for the offence of causing financial loss to the State to the tune of $400,000. He was convicted and sentenced on February 7, 2007 together with the Late Victor Selormey, a former Finance Minister after a trial that lasted for five years. He served only one year of the sentence.

President Kufuor granted him pardon in exercise of his constitutional prerogative of mercy in Mr. Abodakpi's favour. Mr. Abodakpi was a former Minister of Trade and Industry in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration and a sitting MP.

The pardon was announced in a statement signed by Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, Saturday May 24, 2008.

Mr. Abodakpi announced his gratitude in a statement, in which he also reiterated his innocence and expressed the hope that the court of appeal would clear him of all the charges.

He was also thankful to his family, the NDC, his constituents, the Speaker and Members of Parliament for standing by him during his imprisonment.

Mr. Abodakpi asked members of the general public to grant him his privacy as he resettles and prepares to go back to parliament.

The announcement of his release from prison over the weekend was met with wild jubilations and celebration in Keta. Both NPP and NDC members in the constituency joined in the jubilations to welcome their MP back to freedom.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi