Seasoned journalist Kweku Baako has empathized with the former National Coordinator of the defunct Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA), Mr. Abuga Pele over the jail sentence slapped on him by the Financial and Economic Court Division of the Accra High Court last week.
The court, presided over by Justice Afia Asare-Botwe, sentenced Abuga Pele, a former National Coordinator of GYEEDA to 6 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of causing financial loss to the state.
He was sentenced together with a representative of the Goodwill International Group (GIG), Philip Akpeena Assibit who was also implicated in the GYEEDA scandal.
Mr. Assibit will be serving a 12-year jail term
Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's Kokrokoo, Kweku Baako expressed his sympathies saying he is not happy that Mr. Abuga Pele is to spend some years of his life in prison.
Alluding to his own experience in prison, Mr. Baako recounted that a day in prison is painful and so would not have wished for the GYEEDA National Coordinator and his accomplice Philip Akpeena Assibit, to go to prison.
“I’m not happy that they are in prison. I can never be happy. One day in prison is painful…The most painful experience I had in jail was the one month, not the 2 years; not the 7 months…To be honest, sentimentally from the humane point of view, emotionally I’m not happy”.
He also debunked claims that Mr. Abuga Pele may have been used as a scape goat.
Though he believed there are other people involved in the GYEEDA scandal who deserve to equally face full rigors of the law, Mr. Baako however emphasized that "if you look at the court (ruling) judgment, the facts and the law on which the facts were based to convict him, I have my doubts that he was a scapegoat. I have to be honest . . . When I look at the law the Judge relied on and the facts that he relied on within the context of offences that they were charged with, I’m convinced he was guilty".
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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As we call "Crucify him, crucify him," we are turning Abuga Pele into a martyr for some people. The man should answer for his actions, but he wasn't the guiltiest party in this GYEEDA business. The chief culprits haven't even been brought to trial yet.
If we are not careful, some people like Mr Baako who I respect a lot will sympathize with an Armed Robbers that are jailed. Look at so many goat stealers who are in jail serving from 6-24 months. The money lost through Abuga Pele corrupt activities is unbelievable and 6 years is too small. Abuga Pele will come back and enjoy his booty. Kwame Pepra is enjoying his after few years in Jail. Mr Baako got it wrong on this one. Look at how corruption is killing us - hospital, no drugs and Doctors take bribe, Police stand by road side and take bribes from drivers; Port official take bribes. How can this be? Abuga Pele deserved to be in Jail for the 6 years and this is important if this country is move forward. Many unqualified people want to occupy top positions and make Ghanaians suffer yet public service is to serve and make country better. Judge, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You deserve an award for your patriotic service. God bless this Judge who dealt with Abuga Pele without fear or favour.
Kweku Baako is confused and frankly a HYPOCRATE !!!; how can they be guilty and paying the price pain you as an honest man !!!!!what kind of subjective sympathy is that from kweku Baako ; either he is for the law or he is not ; the Abuga Pele was used by Jon Mahama and the NDC to divert state funds ; this was purely a CRIME which a price must be paid for ; has Kweku baako forgotton a certain man call JJ Rawlings who created fake charges of corruption against certain people and killed them for nothing ; today we have people stilling in billions and when sentenced by the law Kweku Baako claim to have sympathy and painms for this nortthner bandit ; does Kweku Baako Understand that the same same amount stole by this man could have provided clean water for his northern people who are today drinking from dirty river with cows ; so Kweku Baako tell Ghanaians where your humanity lis ; how on earyh do you condone and entertain thiffs from the north ; COME AGAIN KWEKU BAAKO examine your space !!!!