Ace broadcast journalist Kwasi Kyei Darkwah (KKD) says he is unmoved by several death threats from politicians after speaking the truth about governance in the country.
KKD stated that he would not allow cowardice to push him to become silent when the country’s economy is mismanaged.
He says nothing can stop him from expressing his views on national matters, even when his life is threatened.
“I have enjoyed too much of life. I have had happiness, and I have had the lower version of happiness, which is a pleasure. I have had plenty of it.
“I have eaten in places that some of the people in political office are now seeking to dine in. What have I got to lose?” he quizzed on Joy News.
KKD has been in the news after he expressed his surprise at government for constantly employing the services of a company co-founded by the Finance Minister – Data Bank Financial Services – as advisors for some of Ghana’s international loan transactions.
His outburst on Wednesday, 17 August 2022, reechoed with some Ghanaians who have since asked leaders to avoid occupying a public office that can cause a conflict of interest.
However, the Ministry of Finance has dismissed the claims that Databank and Black Star Brokerage were handpicked by the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to act as Bond Market Specialists for government bond issuance, hence benefiting from those transactions.
In a statement, the ministry said the claim that these two firms have been appointed as advisors to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) is incorrect.
“The selection of the Primary Dealers [PDs] and Bond Market Specialists [BMSs] is an automatic process based on market performance and historical secondary market trading activity which is publicly available and cannot be manipulated by the Ministry of Finance [MoF] or the Bank of Ghana”.
“Since 1996, the Ministry of Finance with the Bank of Ghana has developed and implemented various policies which affect the issuance and trading of Government of Ghana debt securities (Treasuries and Bonds). The ultimate objectives of these policies are to develop an efficient, fixed income market, strengthen the capacity of local institutions and deepen financial intermediation,” it added.
Furthermore, it pointed out that Databank and Black Star Brokerage are two out of nine firms that have been selected by BoG/MoF as Bond Market Specialists and not Advisors to MoF, adding “the other firms selected to be BMSs are – Ecobank, Stanbic Bank, ABSA, Cal Bank, GCB Bank, Fidelity Bank, and IC Securities. As stated above, the selection of the firms was solely based on their historical performance on the Bond Market and no other consideration,” the statement noted.