General News of Friday, 26 March 2010

Source: Chronicle

Carl Wilson's Empire Crashes

The embattled Chairman of the Confiscated Assets Committee, Mr. Carl Wilson, has finally been relieved of his position, following agitations by some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The agitators had demanded for his removal from office, alleging that his bad conduct, as a public officer, was denting the image of the party.

Some irate youth on Thursday locked out national officers at post, and denied them access to their offices, when they stormed the headquarters of the party at Kokomlemle, a suburb of Accra, to register their protest against Mr. Carl Wilson.

The Minister of Information, Mr. John Tia, confirmed the news in a telephone interview with Citi FM, an Accra-based local FM station yesterday.

According to him, President Mills took the decision to sack Carl Wilson some two days ago, following the outcry of some NDC footsoldiers, who alleged several corrupt practices against him.

Koku Anyidoho, Head of Communications at the Presidency, also confirmed Carl Wilson's dismissal, when he was interviewed during Joy FM's mid-day news yesterday.

According to him, the decision by President Mills to relieve Carl Wilson of his post was taken on March 23rd, 2010, and that it was not due to the demands of the irate youth who besieged the party's headquarters to demand his head.

His position, according to Koku Anyidoho, would be taken over by his (Carl Wilson) deputy until further directives from the President. He however did not give detailed reasons for Mr. Wilson's removal by the President.

However, intelligence gathered by The Chronicle indicates that he is currently under investigation over his dealings with confiscated cars at the Tema Harbour, and would be restored to his position when cleared all the allegations.

Carl Wilson has come under strong criticism in the media, and from the political divide, for allegedly abusing his office, by ordering the sale of confiscated vehicles to his cronies for meager amounts of money, but has ever since denied any wrongdoing, and has challenged his critics to come out with evidence to substantiate their claims.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Alex Segbefia, has always jumped to his defense ever since the news came to the fore of the public, insisting that "Carl Wilson is innocent of all the allegations leveled against him."

According to him, the detractors of Carl Wilson were just trying to pull him down with unfounded allegations, because of the excellent job he had been doing.