Akufo-Addo, Npp Silent On His Us$100, 000 Cash & Car Bribes To Presby Moderator

On a given day, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) touts its flagbearer as “incorruptible”, but recent revelations by a former top officer of the Presbyterian Church that, he gave US$100,000 cash and a Toyota Land Cruiser to the Moderator of Church, suggest Nana Akufo-Addo’s incorruptibility claim is a calculated political cloak, meant only to win an election.

Many have held the outgoing Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey’s claims on governance to be a genuine love for God and country, but last week, his sincerity was questioned with the accusations from his former Public Relations Officer (PRO) that his utterances, have been influenced heavily by an opposition political leader with cash and an expensive brand new SUV car.

The ex-PRO, Dr. Osei Acheampong, whose innuendos and aspersions heavily pointed at Nana Akufo-Addo, revealed how he was also drafted in the unholy alliance between the Presby Church led by Prof. Martey and the NPP led by Nana Akufo-Addo, for the church to act as the NPP’s propaganda wing against the Mahama administration, but he refused to be part of it.

Dr. Acheampong, revealed how at the residence of the said ‘Opposition Leader’ was also offered a whopping US$50,000 to constantly attack the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) through statements to be churned out from that offeror’s political party, but disguised as biblical message from the Presby Church on good governance.

The bribery insinuations was given credence with Nana Akufo-Addo, having been invited under strange circumstance to address the 16th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, at Abetifi, Kwahu in the Eastern Region on Monday, August 22.

This was the first time in recent years that, an opposition leader had spoken at the gathering of all who matter in the Presby Church, in a manner akin to a campaign rally with policies espoused and political promises made.

At Abetifi, Nana Akufo-Addo, had stressed prosecutions of persons found to be corrupt, “will no longer be tainted by perceptions of witch-hunting and selective justice.”

For this reason, he would establish an Office of Special Prosecutor to deal with “the toxic issue of corruption” within the first six months of his administration if he wins this year’s election, adding a successful Ghana, can only be built on the basis of good governance, underpinned by efficient and honest public services.

“This requires that we succeed in eliminating corruption…in order to restore Ghana’s reputation, which, sadly, over recent years, has become a byword for corruption”, he said, and promised firstly, he, together with his team, will give the requisite leadership, which he claimed is lacking under President John Mahama.

The NPP presidential candidate, further explained that the Special Prosecutor ,would be established by Act of Parliament, to be independent of the executive, and to possess “an exclusive remit to investigate and prosecute certain categories of cases and allegations of corruption, including
those involving alleged violations of the Public Procurement Act and cases implicating political office holders and politicians.”

A week later, the Presby Moderator in an unprovoked manner, organized a press conference claiming some politicians who are uncomfortable with his utterances attempted buying his silence by bribing him with a cash of US$100, 000 and a house with a swimming at the expensive Trassco Estates, which he rejected, but hours after his claim, his former PRO, popped to refute the claim, saying he was present when his Moderator pocketed US$100,
000, and collected the keys to a four-wheeler car from a political figure.

Mr. Acheampong, insisted that the money and car, did not come from the governing NDC, but from an opposition flagbearer, adding that the Man of God, after collecting the cash in US$10,000 “excitedly” counted it to ensure that it was exactly the amount quoted by the “very big opposition party’s flagbearer”.

Amazingly, Prof. Martey, has unusually refrained from reacting to his ex-PRO’s indicting claims. Mr. Acheampong, was dismissed in June 2013, without any explanation from the church.

Rev. Prof. Martey’s love of the NPP, has never been in doubt. Not long ago, The Herald, published information from a secret meeting he attended at the Airport West Residence of former president John Kufuor with other NPP-tagged pastors to find amicable solution to the never ending impasse between Nana Addo and the suspended chairman and general secretary, Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyei Agyapong.

At the recent 16th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, Prof. Martey after Nana Addo’s address on corruption, said that “We are taking this seriously” adding “For us, as a church, the Presbyterian Church is the oldest existing church in this country. We will not sit down for newer churches and political parties to come and mess up our country.”

Prof. Martey indicated that “we will keep on praying for you, and for calling the Presbyterian Church into partnership; we will partner you to build Ghana… Nana, I wish you well. Your seriousness and experience. You have said you’re a Christian, so stay in your faith and you will be an overcomer.”

The Presby Moderator, further commended Nana Akufo-Addo “for your clean campaign, and your sense of political maturity and decency.” He indicated that as compared to other political parties, in the use of indecent language on the media landscape, “you (in the NPP) are doing better.”

He explained that “truth ought to be spoken, and Presbyterian Church of Ghana, as a bible believing and practicing church, stands for the truth.

“It is only in a corrupt society that the truth becomes controversial. But we are not perturbed if we are described as controversial because we speak the truth. We will continue to speak the truth, and the truth is Jesus Himself.”

He continued, “Nana we know the work that the NPP has done. The evidence is clear. From 2001 to 2009, we know what you did. From 2009 up till now, we also know what is happening.

You have asked for our prayers. Your request is very selfless. You first said we should pray for peace and unity for Ghana, and then NPP, before you asked for prayers for yourself. We will be with you in prayers.”