Akuapem North Member of Parliament (MP) and former National Lottery Authority (NLA) Director-General, Sammi Awuku, has criticised the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) for what he describes as an excessive focus on arrests and threats of arrests.
Sammy Awuku said the government should instead concentrate on issues directly affecting the daily lives of Ghanaians, including jobs, the economy and the cost of living.
His comments followed reports circulating on social media claiming that he had been invited or arrested by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
He denied the reports, explaining that he was in Kumasi attending a wedding when political activist Appiah Stadium approached him over the claims.
According to him, Appiah Stadium later contacted the person behind the reports to demonstrate that he was not in EOCO custody.
Sammy Awuku said the initial claims were later questioned on social media, with some suggesting that the video showing him freely attending the wedding might have been recorded earlier.
The MP said he had no problem with accountability and accepted that public officials must answer for their decisions after leaving office.
He, however, criticised what he described as the “rambo style” and drama surrounding some invitations and arrests of former public officials.
According to him, accountability must be pursued through proper legal and democratic processes rather than through social media.
Mr Awuku also dismissed other claims about his alleged wealth and ownership of 250 cars, questioning the credibility of such reports.
He further expressed concern about the way information concerning investigations by EOCO was being circulated, saying public officials should not be subjected to unnecessary speculation and reputational damage.
The former NLA boss therefore urged the NDC government to focus on what he called the “bread and butter” issues affecting ordinary Ghanaians.
“Don’t just specialise in arrests and threats of arrests,” he said, urging the government to prioritise the concerns of citizens.
Sammi Awuku also defended free speech, saying he believes false claims should be addressed by checking the facts and providing the public with accurate information.
