Fortiz-Merchant Bank Brouhaha: Blame Tony Lithur�How Can He Represent The Prez, E & P And Fortiz?

Many pundits have condemned President John Dramani Mahama for his alleged involvement in the Fortiz-Merchant Bank saga. The takeover deal between Fortiz Private Equity Fund and Merchant Bank Ghana Limited became more controversial when President Mahama was fingered; he was accused of favouring his brother Ibrahim Mahama. Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mahama Ayariga has however, denied that the President�s asked Merchant Bank to go easy on his brother in the retrieving of a loan owed the bank by the Ibrahim. Speaking to the issue on �Kokrokoo�, Peace FM�s premium Morning show, Hon Kyeremanteng Agyarko, MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency is also of the view that President Mahama should not be blamed. According to him, all the blame should be left on the door steps of lawyer Tony Lithur, counsel for President Mahama in the election petition. He has questioned why lawyer Tony Lithur should represent the President, Engineers & Planners (E&P); a mining firm owned by Ibrahim Mahama, brother to President Mahama and Fortiz. ��I don�t hold President Mahama responsible for anything but I hold the lawyer; you are a lawyer for the President, E&P and Fortiz; it is influence peddling. Very strange coincidence that counsel for President Mahama is the same lawyer for the brother; Ibrahim Mahama and then surprisingly the same lawyer for Fortiz. I am not a lawyer, but I think some of these professional groups (like the Ghana Bar Association) have a code of conduct; he could have even said I cannot be the judge and the jury in my own court,� he opined.