Vice President denies blackmail story

Accra , Feb. 6, GNA - The Office of the Vice President has described as highly irresponsible, a deliberate attempt by a section of the media to malign the government through claims that some public officials attempted to blackmail a journalist.

A statement signed by John Abdulai Jinapor, Media Co-ordinator to the Vice President, said the story on an Accra radio station could best be described as a fabrication, calculated to impugn the reputation of the Vice President.

It refuted claims that Mr John Dramani Mahama assisted Baby Ansabah, the journalist with money to pay compensation to the family of a pastor he allegedly knocked down in a motor accident.

The statement said it was also false that officials of the National Democratic Congress capitalised on the assistance to blackmail Mr. Ansabah.

It said neither has the Vice President given out any money to Mr. Ansabah nor coerced him to make any confession.

According to the statement, despite the clear denial by a family representative of the deceased pastor and Mr. Ansabah about the report, Joy FM reported the allegations.

"While the Mills government believes in the freedom of the media and will continue to promote that, the media must desist from the deliberate peddling of falsehood and the fabrication of stories intended to malign personalities and institutions," the statement said.

The statement advised journalists to remember the basics of journalism and endeavour to promote professionalism in the trade.