General News of Thursday, 9 August 2018

Source: peacefmonline.com

Resign or apologize – Atik Mohammed to Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been given two options; either to step down or apologize to Ghanaians for his involvement in the new Ameri Deal.

According to the General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC), Atik Mohammed, the President cannot say he was forced to give an executive order to the deal and that once he gave his approval, he was aware of the content; adding Mr Agyarko should not be the only person to bear the brunt.

Mr Boakye Agyarko was on Monday, 6th August, 2018 relieved of his position as the Energy Minister.

Even though reason for his dismissal was not mentioned in the statement from the presidency; there were claims that it was due to the new AMERI deal.

Subsequently, Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, confirmed that Mr. Agyarko’s dismissal was due to his handling of the AMERI amendment deal.

The dismissal according to him has “to do with the issue of the controversial AMERI deal. The President believes that in the interest of the Ghanaian people, in the interest of the country and in the interest of his administration, the Minister for Energy, Hon. Boakye Agyarko should be relieved of his position”

However, Atik Mohammed, contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Thursday, said using Ameri as the basis for the Energy Minister’s dismissal is "weak" and ‘most unfortunate’.

“If the basis for (Agyarko's) dismissal is the Ameri deal then it is weak. In that case, then the President himself should have also stepped down. Because when the documents were brought to him he signed with an executive order. He is responsible for the content and so you cannot sacrifice only one man for the content you accepted and signed… sacking only the energy minister is most unfortunate.. I find his decision most unfortunate and harsh. If the Ameri deal led to Agyarko’s dismissal, then Mr President, the least you can do if you will not resign, is to apologize to Ghanaians,” he stated.