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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s comments regarding the ongoing probe in the $100,000 allegedly charged expatriate businessmen during a presidential dinner last year, is prejudicial, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has said.

According to him, the president should have refrained from commenting on the matter which is currently before a bi-partisan parliamentary committee.

At a media encounter on Wednesday, 17 January 2018, Nana Akufo-Addo dismissed claims that the Trade Ministry charged the expats for sitting close to him during the event.

He said Saied Fakhry, Chairman of Interplast Group Limited who was one of the person who sat close to him is a very close and personal friend who can reach him anytime of his choosing without having to pay a penny.

"I don't see why Saied Fakhry will pay money to sit by me", he told journalists.

"His father was a good friend of my own father and he himself has become a very close personal friend".

"I eat in his house. He eats in my house. He has my telephone number I have his. Even after I became president I have eaten in his house a couple of times".

"I would be amazed if somebody like that will think that he has to pay money to sit next to me...this is a man that can get me anytime of his choosing", he said.

But commenting on these statements in an interview with Accra FM Thursday, 18 January 2018, Mr Nketia said: “The accusation is against the presidency and so how can he come to a conclusion that there was no wrong doing?

“How can a seasoned lawyer like Nana Akufo-Addo make such a prejudicial comment on a matter before parliament when you know very well that that parliamentary committee is equivalent to a high court. If he has any evidence then he should present it to the committee."

He added: “The president has destroyed the work of the committee.”