¢36bn Spin Money: Editor Denies Benefiting

The Managing Editor of the Ghanaian Observer newspaper, Egbert Faibille Junior has denied being a beneficiary of sponsored telephone facilities procured by government for its sympathizers and loyalists.

The Insight Newspaper on Monday published a letter by the Minister for Information and National Orientation, Kwamena Bartels requesting Ghana Telecom to install telephone lines and broadband internet facilities for 21 people, including government officials.

The paper alleged that over ¢36 billion of state funds had already been spent by the Minister on the project whose beneficiaries were to speak for the ‘government and disseminate its policies and programmes’.

The listed beneficiaries included leading members of the ruling New Patriotic Party, such as the National Chairman Peter Mac Manu, the National Youth Organizer John Boadu and the former Mayor of Kumasi and MP for Amakom, Maxwell Kofi Djumah and Joe Hackman also an NPP MP.

The names of two newspaper editors, A. C. Ohene of the Heritage and Egbert Faibille were also listed.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr. Faibille who denied any involvement in the said project, said even though an official of the Ministry sometime this year offered him a full time job to work with the government’s Media Monitoring Team, he declined the offer in favour of his newspaper – the Ghanaian Observer.

He denied ever approaching any government official for a phone or internet facility and questioned the propriety of anyone listing him for a job without first consulting him.

“The morning of the 26 of July, which was the actual day my paper was launched, I had a call in the morning from the ministry to attend a meeting at the ministry at I think I believe 2pm. But I couldn’t. I told them that no my paper is being launched that day and I had to do a lot of running around and so I cannot be at that meeting. So subsequent to that ... I just realise that the letter that was sent to Ghana Telecom was actually dated 26 of July. Now as to how my name appeared in the list I do not know whether there is miscommunication within the ranks of the Management Information Systems at the Ministry of Information and National Orientation such that it was assumed that I had accepted though I had communicated to them my non acceptance or unwillingness to accept such a position. Subsequent to that I have even learnt as at September 5 when this anomaly was realised by the ministry that as a matter of fact I did not know anything, the ministry communicated to Ghana Telecom to take my name and I believe that of AC Ohene also whose name had inadvertently been sent to Ghana Telecom.”

Asked what exact role he was expected to play on a Government Media Monitoring Team, he said he had no idea.

“An offer was made and I did not agree so the conversation ended there. It did not go to the point of you are expected to do this or be provided that. Somebody makes you an offer and first round you say no I cannot do it and it ends there. Nobody gave me a role profile, nobody told me what happens or comes with the offer that was being made to me and I left it there.”

Earlier in the day, Government Spokesperson on Governance, Frank Agyekum had defended the project and said government was just trying to coordinate information flow.

He said having identified some key personalities who were sympathetic and loyal to the government’s cause and had a knack for directing public opinion, government was simply trying to facilitate their work by providing them with the facilities and saw nothing wrong with it.

Asked if Agyekum’s line of thought would not confirm widely held perception that some journalists were in bed with the government, Egbert said he did not work with perception.

“I do not work with perceptions and everyone is entitled to their opinion, as they say opinions are like noses. What I know is that I run a private newspaper and I’m also a lawyer, that’s what I do. What I say for example is not even the opinion of my paper. My paper’s opinions are in its editorials so anyone, the 20 or so million Ghanaians is entitled to their opinions and you cannot begrudge anybody but I don’t want to deal with perceptions I want to deal with facts on the ground and what are the facts on the ? Am I a loyalist of the New Patriotic Party government? I am a sympathiser of the Convention People’s Party. I do not even bear a card of the New Patriotic Party, the government or the party that is in government, neither do I even bear a card of the Convention People’s Party except that I am Nkrumahist.”

He said he would support policies and programmes of the NPP as long as they help advance democracy in the country but would not confuse issues to support it blindly and would leave anyone with contrary views about him to hold same, except that he has a good track record and would pursue what he deems right.

JoyFM contacted other non-public officials on the list including John Boadu and A. C Ohene who both declined to comment.