Minister resigns following corruption scandal

General News on Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

2019-04-30

Minister of State in the President's Office, Rockson Ayine Bukari, resigned after an alleged phone conversation in which he allegedly attempted to bribe a journalist who had begun circulating in the media.

Bukari, who today handed over his resignation letter to the president on Monday (April 29th), said he "took note of the tape aired in the media" and therefore took the decision to resign. "in order not to allow the gang to disrupt the government's efforts in carrying out its mandate."

He further noted that he had resigned "in principle, exercising his judgment contrary to what I knew you (President Akufo-Addo) to defend and require of your servants the leadership of this country".

Mr. Bukari, former Upper East Regional Minister, was heard in the taped tape asking Edward Adeti, Starr FM's correspondent, not to publish the story of Shaanxi officials visiting a resident's judge on a case involving the company and another company Cbadius Mining Limited.

We heard him tell the reporter that he (judge) "that they get you something, please".

But, in an attempt to clarify the issue, Mr. Bukari in a statement issued by his office did not dispute the content of the conversation recorded between him and Adeti, but baderted that "the fact is that the conversation lasted more than 4 minutes and 22 minutes. seconds. "

He stated that, on the basis of his relationship with Edeti, he had made an intervention when his attention was focused on an alleged clash over the investigation alleged by Edeti about documents allegedly given to Judge Jacob. Boon (Bolgatanga High Court Judge) in a lawsuit involving two mining companies, Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited and Cbadius Mining Limited.

"He had been informed that Edeti had sought to explain why the documents had not been released in open court, while he was threatening the publication of an attempt at judicial corruption, as the 39, had announced the other party who had sponsored it.

The intervention of the Minister was therefore intended to corroborate and warn his young friend against any damage to the reputation of an unfair and unfounded judge, "the statement said.

The statement, however, raises concerns about the omission of some parts of the tape that included Edeti's comments and responses that Shaanxi officials had difficult hands.

He added that the minister had not bothered to know more about Edeti 's requirements, but had only badured that he would inform those who requested his intervention to be informed. consider asking Shaanxi officials to give him what Edeti claimed to be denied for previous work.

"In fact, the minister advised his young friend to take bribes (what is heard on this tape), which is consistent with what he knows publicly, to fight corruption in the United States. public functions.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Minister's approach of pleading with Edeti is typical of his approach to peacemaking in the situations in question, and in this case, sought to avoid what he had been informed as an error of judgment aimed at damaging the outgoing judge's reputation in the region, he had served as a minister, "he added.

But the statement insists that the case has nothing to do with the government and that the minister is not aware of it, and the unfortunate publication also does not show that Shaanxi has committed any illegality or that justice has been compromised in this regard.

A presidency press release signed by Communications Director Eugene Arhin says the president has accepted the resignation and wishes him good luck.