Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com
By William Yaw Owusu
Saturday May 14, 2011.
Herbert Mensah, the man who describes himself as a friend of the Rawlingses has said he will release to the media the controversial security tapes that purportedly captured President John Evan Atta Mills’ sanctioning GH¢90m to prepare for the July 8 to 10, 2011, delegates congress that will select a flag bearer for the ruling National democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2012 general elections.
The outrageous Mills’ war chest has generated controversy in the political landscape with President swearing heaven and earth that he had no budget for his re-election bid.
However, Herbert Mensah who is adamant and told Adom FM’s morning show host, Adakabre Frempong Manso, that he will make the tape available to him for it to be played on Monday.
He said he is ready to release the security tape which was recorded for two hours and made available to Former President Rawlings.
Herbert Mensah did not however say when and where he would be meeting Adom FM to play back the tape.
The tape according to Herbert Mensah reveals that President Mills had been caught on tape discussing about blowing GH¢90million on his re-election bid as NDC flagbearer.
He said “The tapes were brought to us…we listened to those tapes… it had details of other areas including intimidation, including alternative bank account details, naming of persons in government, people in the Castle.
“I do not want to go into detail…I do not want to inflame the situation further than that,” Herbert said.
According to him, he listened to the tapes together with the Ex-President and it was clear that the huge amount was going to be used to influence delegates to select President Mills as the party’s flagbearer whilst at the same time ensuring the former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings does not succeed in her presidential bid.
Already accusation is flying that President Mills campaign team is bribing delegates with Gc4,000 (C40million) each in addition to a motorbike. The campaign team has since denied the allegation made by Michael Teye Nyaunu, MP for Lower Manya Krobo in the Eastern region.
President Mills’ attempt to seek re-election is facing stiff opposition from former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, wife of Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, NDC founder who has also picked her nomination forms to contest the President and as congress draws near both camps have traded accusations and counter accusation in their bids to shore up support.
A third force has come into the race in the person of Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, who until Tuesday May 10, was a Vice Chairperson of the party and has also picked his nomination forms to contest the two ‘giants’.
President Mills denied ever sanctioning GH¢90m equivalent to $60million and even asked the security agencies to investigate the matter for Ghanaians to know about the truth.
The President who spoke impeccable Fante to Asempa FM on Wednesday said “where I have reached in my career it is not the time for me to disgrace myself. I have therefore ordered our agencies to conduct investigations into the allegation so that Ghanaians would know the truth.”
He said “I have also heard about the allegation that I am going to use that huge amount for my campaign. I do not know where it is coming from. I heard they brought me a budget but nobody has presented to me any budget and I have also not given any approval.”
“Atta Mills has no budget for campaign it is well wishers (people) who are bringing it. Whoever wants to bring GH¢90million to Atta Mills should take it to the contractors who are working at Sofoline, Suhum and other places where projects are going on.”
Victor Smith, Ghana’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic and former aide to Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings reacted angrily that the revelation of secret tapes purported to be emanating from the home of his former boss who Herbert Mensah now works for is an indication that Mr. Rawlings is spying on President John Evans Atta Mills.
Brigadier General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (Rtd.), National Security Advisor confirmed to Daily Guide that the President had ordered investigation in Herbert Mensah’s GH¢90million allegation and said “it is a serious allegation. It borders on corruption so it needs to be investigated.”
But now Herbert said the tape is genuine.
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