Let’s test the law with Akufo-Addo case – Kofi Adams

The law must be tested as far as a suit against the flagbearer of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is concerned, National Organiser of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams has said.

The Plaintiffs Alex Doe and George Spencer Quaye are praying an Accra High Court to compel Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to pay Ghc798,000 for the usage of two four wheelers for 19 months after leaving office in 2007 to pursue his presidential ambition.

In addition, the two are also asking the court to declare the former Attorney General unfit to run for President in 2016 by dint of his action.

Mr Akufo-Addo’s office, as well as party members including former Attorney General Nii Ayikoi Otoo and a Deputy Communications Director Anthony Karbo, have all read political meanings into the suit.

Mr Karbo described it as “useless” when he appeared on a panel discussion on Morning Starr on Friday.

“Akufo-Addo has never used a state vehicle; Akufo-Addo never lived in a government house, Akufo-Addo never benefitted from the largesse that public officers benefitted [from] so from that standpoint, I don’t know where this case is going to, and that’s why I completely call this case a frivolous and useless case because it has no basis,” Karbo said.

However, Adams, who was on the show with Karbo and two others, questioned Karbo’s logic by wondering how the former foreign affairs Minister could absolve himself from the usage of the cars even if he was not the one who personally used them after he left office.

Adams wondered whether the two vehicles “drove themselves” into Akufo-Addo’s custody.

In his view, the case is worth pursing in the law court as a way of testing Ghana’s laws to strengthen the country’s democracy.

Inside Ghana’s legal suit against Mr Akufo-Addo comes on the heels of a similar court action initiated by pressure group OccupyGhana against former Energy Minister Dr Joseph Oteng-Adjei who also recently returned his official 4x4 state vehicle after keeping it for several months after leaving office.

OccupyGhana is praying the Court to compel the former Environment, Science and Technology Minister to cough up about Gh¢383,000 to the state for the 222 days that he kept the luxury vehicle meant for rural electrification projects.

According to the suit filed on March 12 at an Accra Fast Track High Court, the group is demanding $500 for each day that Dr. Oteng-Adjei kept the vehicle.

Dr. Oteng-Adjei returned the vehicle on February 24, 2015 after former Deputy Energy Minister K T Hammond blew the whistle on him.