36bn Spent On 'Front Journalists & Friends'?

... Ministry Denies Story
Accra, Nov. 13, GNA - The Ministry of Information and National Orientation on Monday said it had not spent 36 billion cedis on "party friends and front journalists".

A statement signed by the Sector Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels said: "The attention of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation has been drawn to a headline article by "The Insight" of Monday, November 13, purporting to "expose" the Ministry for "blowing" 36 billion on "party friends and front journalists".

The Ministry states categorically that the story is untrue.

"It is not true that 36 billion has been spent on "party friends and front journalists". Indeed, no money, not even a cedi, has been paid to Ghana Telecom for any such programme.

The Ministry as part of its communications strategy has indeed set up Information Communications Management Teams to help disseminate Government policies and programmes to the public.

"The Ministry, as part of its communication strategy has sought to provide communication facilities for members of its teams."

In the process of constituting the Ministry's various communications teams, various individuals were contacted including Mr Egbert Faibille; A.C. Ohene, among others. The two, however, declined interest citing various reasons, including pressure of work. The Ministry subsequently communicated to Ghana Telecom, requesting the deletion of the two names on September 5.

"The Ministry of Information and National Orientation wishes to reiterate that the formation of such strategic teams are part of the Ministry's mandate. Media teams are a regular function of public and non-public organizations, and indeed, the Managing Editor of "The Insight" Mr Kwesi Pratt had earlier been part of such a ministerial communications team under this same Government.

"Again, no sum of money has been paid so far for this exercise and it is, therefore, not true that a "whopping 36 billion cedis" has been spent as "The Insight" claims.