Presidency challenges Dr. Yankey to provide proof

Accra, April 30, GNA - The Office of the President on Wednesday reacted to an allegation by Dr Sipa Yankey, a former official of the Finance Ministry, that the judgment that convicted him to a two-year jail term in 2003 was written in the Castle, describing it as not only wicked and unfounded but subversive and criminal.

The Castle, it stated, was not an extension of the Judiciary and for that matter "does not" write judgments or even remotely interfere with their work.

Mr. Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President, at a press briefing in Accra challenged Dr Yankey to provide proof of his allegation made on a local FM station.

"We challenge Dr. Yankey to name those who wrote the judgment and where they wrote this judgment or forever hold his peace." The Press Secretary said it was instructive that he had waited until the passing away of Justice Kwame Afreh to make the allegation against a man who could not respond.

"It is understandable that it would appear more convenient to tell tales about a dead man and therefore Dr Yankey has chosen this time to tell his tale."

Mr Awuni said this was totally unacceptable and unbecoming of men who were seeking the mandate of the people to govern.

He referred to the many press conferences and appearances on radio by key National Democratic Congress (NDC) members to speak against the ruling party and said it was worth noting that none raised any issue of a judgment written from the Castle for the late Justice Afreh. "Indeed, Professor Atta Mills, flag bearer of the NDC, is on record to have said that he does not fault Justice Afreh on the judgment he delivered", the Press Secretary added.

He declared that the era when the Executive interfered with the work of the other arms of Government in the country was over. Mr Awuni said, "Dr Yankey and his colleagues" should therefore have to purge themselves of the nightmares of the past and get a grip of the reality of a new and truly democratic Ghana.