Flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama has instructed the New Crusading Guide newspaper to retract and apologise for a publication he said was “veritably false and a complete fabrication” against him.

According to a letter addressed to the Editor-in–Chief of the newspaper by Dr Mahama’s lawyer, Kofi O. Adinkrah Jnr, cited by ClassFMonline.com, the newspaper carried a story with the headline: PNC’s MAHAMA UNDER FIRE OVER TRANSFERRING PARTY CASH TO BUY TREASURY BILLS on the front page of the Tuesday, 24 January 2016 edition, which indicated that Dr Mahama diverted funds meant for the party and invested the said funds in treasury bills for his personal gain.

Mr Adinkrah said the newspaper indicated that Dr Mahama sought to divert funds allocated for the launch of the PNC’s 2016 Manifesto to organise a Coconut Festival, leading to a delay in the launch of the Manifesto.

Mr Adinkrah argues that these allegations in addition to others made by the newspaper were all false.

He said the publication has caused grave damage to the good reputation of Dr Mahama and has lowered his esteem in the eyes of right thinking persons.

His client is, therefore, seeking “an immediate and unconditional retraction of the above defamatory statements and allegations made by you [New Crusading Guide], in the same manner and with the same prominence and via the very media by which you published same.”

In addition, the lawyer is demanding a separate unqualified apology for what he said were defamatory statements and allegations against Dr Mahama.

“Should you, within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt of this letter, fail to meet the above demands, we shall proceed and resort to other lawful processes or avenues for vindicating the rights of our client without further recourse to you,” Mr Adinkrah added.