SFO Exposed

YAW BOADU-AYEBOAFO, General Manager of Newspapers at the Graphic Communications Group Limited, has punched holes into what looks like a grand agenda by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to meddle into the affairs at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and make political scapegoats from there.

This is because ripples from his article, 'The Albatross At GBC', seems to be confirming fears in several circles that the power play at the state broadcaster must indeed have some political undertones.

The former Graphic editor has finally proven that there was a written communication between SFO and GBO, to set the pace for the investigation of the BGC boss.

Even though the investigative body tried to vehemently deny the perception that it was usurping the powers of the National Media Commission in the GBC brouhaha, revelations by Mr.Boadu-Ayeboafo have made bare the glaringly clandestine moves in the matter.

The celebrated journalist, who on 24th April, 2010, jumped into the on-going fray between the SFO and GBC over Mr. William Ampem Darko, Director-General of the GBC, argued that the matter was taking an unconstitutional twist and fumed that not only was the GBC being dragged into an unnecessary warfare, but that the SFO had no business wading into the matter in the first place, saying, “The GBC has been drawn into another needless public discourse following the intervention of the Serious Fraud Office in asking the board to interdict Mr. Ampem-Darko and three other management personnel, to pave the way for investigations into the operations of GBC.”

He added, “The SFO must withdraw and allow the NMC to determine what must be done. It is instructive to point out that under Article 172 of the 1992 Constitution, it is expressly stated that "Except as otherwise provided by this Constitution or by any other law not inconsistent with this Constitution, the National Media Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority in the performance of its functions".”

In the ensuing melee, the SFO came out to indicate that it was acting on a letter received from the chairman of the GBC board, but the board Chairman, Prof. J. B. K. Aheto, maintained he never wrote any letter to the SFO.

This prompted a call on the NMC to investigate the circumstances under which the SFO came into the matter.

Six days later (April 30th), the SFO, in a rejoinder to the article, vehemently denied there was any communication between them and GBC over Mr. Ampem Darko and challenged Mr. Boadu-Ayeboafo to prove it.

“We wonder at which forum and where the SFO gave such indication and the form, which the said indicator took.

The SFO categorically denies making any such statement or giving any such indication. Indeed SFO does not need any such letter or instruction to undertake its investigation,” the rejoinder noted.

But in a rebuttal, the Graphic General Manager cited a letter dated 18th March, 2010 and signed by Justice A.Y. Tsar to the GBC board chairman.

The text of the letter, part of which was quoted in the May 5, 2010 issue of Daily Graphic, clearly said that it was in response to an earlier letter received from the GBC chairman as far back as 4th November, 2009.

With this revelation, it is not clear what other defence the SFO will make in the matter, but information reaching DAILY GUIDE indicates that the NMC is girding its loins to insist on what is its constitutional right.

By Bennett Akuaku