NPP goofed on attacks on Mahama's brother- Kwaku Baako

Kwaku Baako, the Editor-in-chief of The New Crusading Guide Newspaper, has described as unwarranted, fictitious and malicious attacks against Ibrahim Mahama, junior brother of President John Mahama by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over his loan transaction with Merchant bank.

He opined that the statement by NPP was based on mere speculation and a conscious attempt to subject President Mahama to public ridicule, by associating him to the transaction.

Mr. Baako said this when sharing his thoughts on the press conference held by the party on Tuesday, on Peace Fm in Accra.

The press briefing anchored by the party's Deputy Communications Director, Yaw Buaben Asamoah, accused President Mahama of sacrificing the pensions of Ghanaians to defray debts of Merchant bank “all because his brother owes GH? 57.2 million, which represents 19 per cent of the total debt of the bank”.

The statement said the decision by Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and State Insurance Company (SIC) to off-load their stake to First Rand Bank in South Africa, was due to the inability of the bank to retrieve its monies from debtors.

If the planned sale comes to fruition, the bank shall declare the amount owned by Ibrahim Mahama as bad debt, the statement added.

Mr. Baako insisted that it was inappropriate for the NPP to associate the president to a business which was solely transacted by his brother.

“... For me consistency is my watch word here. It is important to note that when Ibrahim Mahama secured the loan from the bank his brother (President Mahama) was in opposition at the time, so it will not be fair to link him to his brother's predicaments.

What was bad yesterday is also wrong today. I jumped to the defense of Chief Kufour during the hotel Kufuor saga and I will do same today, especially when there is nothing of evidential value.”

He insisted that until the NPP make available substantial evidence to back its claim, the statement must be treated with the contempt it deserves.