Akufo Addo's $10m Presidential diaries claim false – Govt

Government has denied claims by Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party that the presidency has doled out $10 million for the printing of presidential diaries, describing the assertion as baseless and one which must be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.

Nana Akufo-Addo, who is embarking on an European tour, told NPP supporters in Amsterdam that the presidency has issued out the whopping amount of money for the printing of diaries to be distributed to members of the ruling party.

This issue, according to him, is sad because Ghanaians on a daily basis are struggling to put food on their tables.

“I listen to the disillusionment of the average Ghana with politicians who promise them relief and end up bringing them grief when they get into office. I listen to the journalist who is saddened by the revelation that a government can spend $10 million to print presidential diaries. Yes, you heard me right: $10 million. And yet we are barely able to scrape together $10 million as a down payment on our debt to Nigeria for the supply of a truly essential product – gas,” he said.

However, speaking to sit in hostess, Yaa Serwah Akoto on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.3 FM, Deputy Minister of Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu chided Nana Addo for peddling such lies when he could easily verify from official government sources whatever information he had gathered on the diaries.

He said Nana Addo should have produced evidence to back his claim and not put out such unsubstantiated allegations intended to score cheap political points.

“Not even a dime has been taken from state coffers to print the said diaries. In any case, what type of diaries when printed will cost $10 million, even if its gold plated I don’t think it will amount to that much”.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu explained that government was not directly involved in publishing the diaries but only gave permission to individuals who wanted to run that business.

“Because this was not government business, there was no tender. Individuals approached government to seek permission to publish the diaries. They also proceeded to solicit for sponsorship from corporate institutions, so if you check the back pages of the diaries you’ll see the sponsoring companies with the adverts there. Government is committed to spending state funds prudently”.