The Director of Communications for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s presidential campaign, Nana Akomea, has accused the Mahama administration of engaging in the same practice it previously criticized under the Akufo-Addo government, by using internal investigations to clear public officials accused of wrongdoing.
Speaking in an interview with The Chronicle, Nana Akomea questioned the credibility of a recent investigation into road contracts awarded by the Ministry of Roads and Highways, arguing that the process mirrored what the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had once condemned as “clearing agent”.
“Clearly, the reset agenda has not affected the clearing agent business at all,” Nana Akomea added.
His comments followed an announcement by Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, regarding the outcome of an investigation into allegations raised by investigative journalism outlet, The Fourth Estate.
The Fourth Estate had published findings alleging widespread sole-sourcing of road contracts, inflated contract values, questionable purchases of luxury vehicles and irregular allocation of funds for head office renovations within the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
According to Akomea, Kwakye Ofosu informed the public that the Presidency had tasked one of its staff members to lead a team to investigate the allegations. The team subsequently found no wrongdoing in the award and execution of the contracts.
The former New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications director said the development reminded him of investigations conducted under the previous Akufo-Addo administration, where some government officials and institutions were similarly cleared of allegations of corruption or misconduct.
He noted that at the time, the NDC strongly rejected such investigative reports, describing them as self-serving and lacking credibility.
Nana Akomea recalled that the opposition party, led by figures including Kwakye Ofosu, had frequently referred to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a “chief clearing agent” for allegedly using state mechanisms to shield appointees from accountability.
“The same thing is being done today,” Nana Akomea told The Chronicle, arguing that allegations against appointees of President John Dramani Mahama were being investigated by individuals appointed by the President, who subsequently exonerate the officials involved.
He further criticized the government for what he described as a contradiction between its promises of reform and its handling of accountability issues.
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