Nana Akomea: Set Up An Independent Enquiry To Look Into �Baba Jamal Tape�

Communications Director for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikoi South, Nana Akomea, has requested for an Independent Enquiry to open investigations into recent allegations that a Deputy Information Minister pledged largesse to journalists who do the bidding of the government. To him, that is the only way truth in the matter can be wholly established since he believes that there is no way the NDC will admit and concede it is Baba Jamal�s voice on the tape. His call comes on the heels of government�s directive to the New Patriotic Party to render an apology and also retract comments they made concerning the allege tape. Government says it has directed the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the National Security outfit to immediately open investigations into the allegations it intends to bribe some journalists to propagate and embellish stories that would seek to champion their cause. According to Nana Akomea, the NDC had already passed on the case, hence his call for an independent enquiry into the case. �We need an independent enquiry into the matter because you cannot expect the NDC to accept that it�s Baba Jamal�s voice. Let�s have a proper independent enquiry to ascertain the authenticity of the voice and put this matter to rest�� he said in an interview with Shamima Muslim on Citi FM. The NPP, at a press conference on Thursday August 4, 2011, unveiled a list of 15 names of journalists in the Upper East region allegedly offered inducements to skew stories to favour government. The journalists were said to have been offered employment at the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), with accounts already opened for them, in order to hide the source of the inducement. A copy of an employment letter, was also showcased. The offer was said to have made by Deputy Information Minister Baba Jamal. But another Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa believes Nana Akomea is fast gaining notoriety for all the wrong reasons, especially considering his recent outburst towards the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Hon. James Agyenim Boateng and other insulting comments made in the past. In response, Nana Akomea said: �this is no issue; they are just trying to divert attention from government�s bribing of journalists. If you put Okudzeto and I together, the difference is big and it is obvious who insults more�.