A lawyer, Kweku Painstil says President Akufo-Addo's response to the resignation of the Sanitation Minister, Cecelia Abena Dapaah is prejudicial.
The lawyer explained that the president's statement suggests that the Minister will come out not guilty of allegations of her stashing illegal monies in her room.
According to him, Akufo-Addo's response should have been that of a neutral ground.
"I think it's highly prejudicial. It's not proper for the president to express that confidence. If you're confident, fair enough. That's the main reason why you appointed her in the first place.
"But in the current form, with due respect, I'm not too sure that it's proper for the president before even an investigation begins to express your confidence at this stage and hope and give a kind of assurance that she'll come out of it clean.
"The prejudicial nature of that kind of thing is that you prepare the mind of the public in such a way that there's going to be only one conclusion about what goes on," he said on the AM show on Monday.
Mr Painstil says he is worried about the president's statement because it has become highly typical of African leaders to manipulate results behind the scenes.
However, speaking during the programme as well, a Political Scientist, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante expressed a contrary view.
He said he does not see anything wrong with the president's statement in response to the Minister's resignation.
"I don't see anything wrong with what the president said," he said.
He explained that since she was an appointee of the government, it is normal for the president to express confidence in her integrity. The political scientist believes that such a comment cannot compromise the outcome of investigations that may be conducted.
In his view, it was just an ordinary statement.
The Sanitation Minister, Cecelia Abena Dapaah has tended in her resignation following buzzing news and allegations of corruption when it was noted in court that huge sums of monies were stolen from her by her house helps.
Patience Botwe, 18 and former housemate, Sarah Agyei, 30 are said to have connived to steal a significant amount of monies, including €300,000 and millions of cedis from the Minister's house at Abelemkpe.
They are said to have also stolen the personal belongings of the Minister and her husband, with a total of some of such belongings valued at Gh¢95,000.
The public has since been outraged by the news. Some have argued that the minister ought not to have kept such huge amounts of money in her room, in case they were monies she earned genuinely.
A few hours after the Minister in a press statement indicated that there were inconsistencies in Media reports about the stolen monies, she tended in her resignation.
President Akufo-Addo accepted the resignation and expressed confidence in her integrity.
"It is with considerable regret that I accept your resignation and I applaud your loyalty to the image and standing of the government.
"I am confident like you that at the end of the day, your integrity while in office will be fully established," the president said.
Latest Stories
-
Kurt Okraku took out ny passport from the U23 squad that travelled to Japan – Najeeb Yakubu alleges
2 mins -
Where hope fails: Ghana’s decaying home for the destitute
12 mins -
NDC Mining Committee for 2024 campaign refutes allegations of recruiting thugs for elections
22 mins -
Traction Control: A lifesaver with an off switch? Here’s why it exists
26 mins -
I don’t need anyman to woo me with money – Miss Malaika 2024 winner refutes pimping claims
33 mins -
”Kurt Okraku sabotaged my national team career because I refused to sign with Dreams FC” – Najeeb Yakubu
33 mins -
Businesses urged to leverage Generative AI for enhanced customer engagement
37 mins -
MultiChoice Ghana partners with Ghana Hotels Association to elevate guest entertainment
46 mins -
Bawumia’s music streaming app or Mahama’s pay-per-view TV channel?
51 mins -
Karpowership Ghana empowers 40 Takoradi Technical University students with scholarship
53 mins -
We expect significant reduction in prices of petroleum products in coming weeks – CEO AOMC
1 hour -
Betway Africa offers once-in-a-lifetime ‘Play-on-the-Pitch’ experience at Emirates Stadium
1 hour -
I coined the term ‘hype man’ in Ghana – Merqury Quaye
1 hour -
Vasseur questions ‘strange momentum’ of Formula One race director change
2 hours -
“I am disappointed in Kojo Manuel” – Merqury Quaye on “no tie” comment
2 hours