You Had It Wrong This Time Around

Samson Lardy Ayenini.

Dear Samson Lardy Ayenini.....
I know this time around,you will pardon me for criticising you for the second time as an ardent and a staunch follower of the good work you have been doing for the "multimedia group". The first time I criticized your conduct was when you decided to belittle Henry Nana Boakye. I carefully read what you posted on facebok concerning the propaganda surrounding the number of presidential staffers. Seriously after reading it,I couldnt get it because, It was disappointing. Before I zoom into the substance of what you posted on your facebook timeline.Let me reproduce same in my next paragraph.

*"Pray - The very many decent guys and intellectuals well deserving of their places in gov’t must tell those uninformed and hungry folks to shut up! Fine to abuse guys like us, it’s normal business. But it’s nauseating reading them abuse great and decent intellectuals and think tank leaders for sharing their views on this sinfully absurd 998. The internet doesn’t lie. Look up the stuff the NPP said about JM’s 678. What sickening shameless dishonest hypocrisy. The internet doesn’t lie. Look up the stuff the NPP said about JM’s 678. What sickening shameless dishonest hypocrisy?* *Imagine what the NPP would have been doing on our radio and Tv if this 998 and 110 had happened in a different regime.*

*Just imagine. Citizens must have a voice even if they don’t pay tax. Now show up here and write what you may if you think I have time for you. I have been sitting here in my office reading and reviewing court records in excess of 2000 pages in total.”*

A careful reading of your post tells me that,you decided to move on an emotional tangent instead of debating the subject matter currently on our discourse and trending on social media. Since you decided to walk on that reckless path,let me use this opportunity to "lash you proper in a professional way". In your post you described those who criticized your misleading information you put out there as "hungry folks". After describing them as such,you went ahead to describe the 998 propaganda as" sinfully absurd". Instead of verifying your facts as a professional journalist,you decided to join the misleading crusaders just to poison the minds of people who may have not been preview to the facts. Why should you describe people who holds contrary views to yours as "hungry"? So to you,when one is hungry,he has no right to comment on issues of national interest? Assuming without admitting that,those guys are hungry, do they come to you to be fed?. You think as a man,it is all the time your stomach will be full?.Please next time dont use such expression on people again.

Nana Akufo Addo submitted the list to parliament in respect of section 11 of the *PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE ACT - 1993 (ACT 463)*. Before I proceed with my argument,let me reproduce the section 11 for the perusal of my readers.

"The President shall within 3 months after the end of each financial year submit to Parliament an annual report containing the following information-

(a) the number of presidential staff employed at the Office;

(b) the rank or grade of such staff; and
(c) employees in the other public services assigned to the Office"

In 2014 alone,Former president Mahama submitted a list of 867 as staffers of which some were civil servants under CIVIL SERVICE ACT - 1993 (PNDCL 327) to parliament in fulfillment of section 11 of the presidential office Act,1993(Act 463). Since this government released the list,those in the NDC threw out lies that sought to suggest that,Nana Akufo Addo in his assumption into office as a president decided to fill the jubilee house with the number quoted out there as presidential staffers. Meanwhile,in 2015 and 2016, mahama failed to present his list of those working in the FSH to parliament as required. I know the question reasonable minds will raise is, why did former president Mahama to do so.In 2015 and 2016 when Mr Mamaha failed to present his list to parliament as required by law, your outfit didnt see it as sinfully absurd. Again, it is not true that, all the 998 are presidential staffers. Out of the 998,710 are civil servants working there. So the lies that, the 998 are presidential staffers is untrue.

What is sinfully absurd is when a journalist of your calibre decides to join the misleading crusaders Who thought that, the double salary and double ex gratia brouhaha could only sink when this issue is introduced into the system just to divert attention from the heinous crimes they committed against Ghanaians when they were in government. New ministries created by this government have their own personal aides working at the Jubilee house because ,those ministeries have their offices at the jubilee house. Their names are also included in the list which is currently before parliament.

Next time you want your voice to be heard with regards to issues of national interest as a professional journalist do well and verify the facts before you speak out of wanton ignorance. I will sign off at this moment.

Dawda Eric(Equity)
Citizen Vigilance for Justice
awda eri