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CHRAJ verdict on ford gift "problematic" - Emil Short

The commission, after four months extensive investigations revealed that President Mahama was found culpable of the gift policy regime for public officers, but not guilty of bribery.

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According to CHRAJ, the investigations conducted into the allegations of bribery brought before it by the CPP Youth does not only exonerate the President but also brings the matter to a cessation.

Commenting on the report by CHRAJ on Accra-based 3FM, Justice Emil Short said the outcome of the investigation leaves uncertainty on the minds of Ghanaians: “Well, I think the decision is problematic,” explaining that: “It poses more questions.”

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“And one wonders what signal it’s sending to public officers especially the Minister of Roads and Highways, who has to deal with contractors in the course of official duties in awarding contracts.

"I said so because the Commission established that the code of gift for public officers was violated by the president yet it went ahead to dismiss the petition without granting any of the releases,” he said.

Former Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Ocquaye has also stated that though the report vindicates the president on his acceptance of the Ford vehicle from the Burkinabe contractor Djibril Kanazoe, he has to avail himself to answer the mind bubbling questions on the minds of individuals.

“Definitely from what I see at the moment, there are more questions than answers and I don’t think we are anywhere nearing closure to such a controversial issue. …Was the President called? Was the President asked pertinent questions that he should answer? It is very important in this case how you really interrogate the issue. How did the President come to know this gentleman in the first place?

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“The circumstances [under] which you come to know a person are very important. From what I heard about the initial evidence, the introduction was made by this Burkinabe to the then vice president for one single purpose.

Prof Ocquaye is also of the view that the purpose of the Burkinabe introducing himself to the then vice president should be probed further.

“The purpose was so that he could win contracts because he tried for so long but was not winning a contract. That was the purpose of the introduction. That purpose should be a matter for serious examination,” he said

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