Stealing Of State Files: It’s Only An Irresponsible Gov’t That Can Make Such Baseless Claims

National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Anthony Karbo, has described as petty and unfortunate accusations emanating from the governing party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the Kufuor administration stole some important documents when they were leaving office in 2008.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a Deputy Minister of Education, over the weekend stated that the NPP carted away some vital documents took some files with them when they were handing over to the ruling government.

Speaking in an interview on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’ with host Kwami Sefa Kayi, the deputy Information Minister reiterated that there was not a single file in the Attorney General’s office which the NPP handed over to them.

“In the office of the Chief of Staff for example there was not a single file we inherited; the previous government took it away. We are also aware of 12 files from the Attorney General’s department and others from the Finance Ministry… We didn’t’ inherit a single file…the transition was quite inconclusive; at some point the outgoing officers boycotted the processes. We got a few handing over notes. However, I must be fair that there are some ministers who handed over completely… The entire Waterville document was taken away and the payments were made in petitions. In this Woyome issue, he was paid based on some document he made available but the irony of the matter is that Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome who brought most of the documents to EOCO; those documents were later to hang him…I am no way justifying the payment of the money to Woyome, especially when the issue is in court…we will be accused of being an inept government, an incompetent government; that having come to office you can’t find certain crucial facts you need to work and you didn’t do anything about it, we will not have acted in the international interest and that is why various actions have been made to solve the issue and it will be made known…This will be the subject of some further actions that the government will be taking so I don’t want to jump the gun…”Okudzeto said.

But contributing to a panel discussion on the same platform, the NPPs National Youth Organiser, Anthony Karbo, said he does not understand how the ruling government can come up with something of this nature.

“It is only an irresponsible government that will come out to make such a comment. How can a government come out and say that documents have been stolen? The NPP left the office the way we met it and we did so because that is how the office is supposed to be…It is so sad and petty…I will appeal to Okudzeto and his people to watch what they say. I want to respond to that issue and our response is that the NPP left the office the way we met it; the way Nana Ato Dadzie (former Chief of Staff in the NDC 1 regime led by ex-president Rawlings) left the office is the same way Kwadwo Mpiani also left the office…,” Anthony Karbo stated.

Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com