Veep denies any wrongdoing

Accra, Sept. 1, GNA - Vice President Aliu Maahama did not indulge in any wrongdoing during a visit by the US Congressman, Willian Jefferson to the Castle, Osu, Accra.

He said he was only performing his official duties on the occasion when he met Mr Jefferson, who requested the meeting through the Ghana Mission in Washington, a statement from the Office of the Vice President said in Accra on Thursday.

The statement signed by Mr Yaw B. Asamoa of the Office of the Vice President, said Mr Jefferson paid a courtesy call on Alhaji Aliu during which the Minister of Communication, Mr Albert Kan-Dappah was present since the issue to be discussed was related to Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Ghana.

Mr Asamoa said neither the Ministry of Communication nor the Ghana Mission in Washington had received any follow up on the specific issues raised during the meeting with the Vice President.

The statement said enquiries by the Ghana Mission in Washington confirmed that Mr Jefferson was under Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe and, as a consequence, his meetings were being scrutinised as a matter of routine.

It said the Government of Ghana and Ghana's Mission in Washington, however, had not received any formal request for assistance, as was the practice in International relations.

"The Office of the Vice President wishes to deny in the strongest terms any wrongdoing on the part of the Vice President relating to the visit of US Representative William Jefferson," the statement said.