Justice Akamba Cautions Journalists

Accra, Sept. 28, GNA - Mr Justice Joseph Bawa Akamba, Chairman of the committee of enquiry investigating allegations of corruption and abuse of office against Mr Kwaku Ansa-Asare, Director of the Ghana School of Law (GSL), on Wednesday cautioned Journalists covering the committee's sittings to avoid speculative reporting. "We advise the press to do the right thing. Do not speculate. Misreporting is not something we will encourage you to undertake. Hear and hear well."

Justice Akamba gave the caution after Mr Ansa-Asare had told him that some newspapers were misrepresenting the proceedings of the Committee. According to Mr Ansa-Asare, some newspapers had reported on issues emanating from the Committee proceedings that tarnished the reputation of some personalities including himself, although further clarification proved that they were wrong.

He said although the Committee recorded a true representation of proceedings, most members of the public believed in what they read from the newspapers even if they were not true.

The Committee, however, assured him that what mattered most was the findings, which would bring out the truth about the case. Meanwhile one Ms Mary Dei, who worked with Read Wide, a bookshop from 1997 to 2003, said books worth 440 million cedis, which were purchased from Read Wide by the Ghana School of Law in 2003, were duly delivered to the School accompanied by a delivery note.

She said she personally delivered the books and also handed the receipts to the accountant of Read Wide at the time whose name she could not remember.

Ms Dei was responding to questions from the Committee concerning those purchases.

The Committee sits on Tuesday October 4.