Rockson Bukari resigns after Shaanxi bribe saga

General News of Monday, April 29, 2019

Source: starrfm.com.gh

2019-04-29

State Minister for the Presidency, Rockson Bukari, resigned after being filmed to try to prevent a Starr FM reporter from publishing a damaging story about Shaanxi Mining Corporation.

Earlier, Bukari denied having allegedly attempted to bribe Starr FM's correspondent based in the Upper East Region to kill the story against a judge and the Shaanxi Mining Company at the end of 2018.

Eugene Arhin, director of communication for the presidency, said the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had accepted the resignation of the minister.

Last week, a phone conversation between the minister and Edward Adeti revealed how Bukari was trying, in a desperate and desperate effort, to prevent Starr FM's correspondent from publishing a painful story when he was heading to the Upper East region.

The oldest judge in the Upper East Region, Judge Jacob B. Boon, was caught meeting with officials of the Shaanxi Mining Company Ltd – a party in a case before him – day and night, in November 2018, at his home.

Journalist Mr. Adeti confronted Shaanxi's representatives and the judge with his testimony two days before the trial. Subsequently, he began to receive phone calls from Shaanxi-related influential figures, arguing forcefully on behalf of the judge and the Chinese-owned company not to publish the findings.

Mr. Bukari was one of the most influential personalities who would have arranged financial incentives and other gifts to allow the journalist to kill the story.

In the recorded telephone conversation, the former regional minister of Upper East East was urged to implore heaven and earth with the reporter to shred the story.

However, Bukari said Sunday in a statement that he only played a peacekeeping role.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the Minister's approach to litigation with Edeti is typical of his approach to peacemaking in situations; reputation as a judge from the region where he had served as minister, "said a statement from his office.