Lawyer Martin Kpebu has retracted and apologised to the President, Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo, after alleging that he was part of a “corruption syndicate” at the Jubilee House.
Mr. Kpebu was speaking on the recent corruption survey by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) when he suggested that the President’s posture showed that he condoned corruption.
He added that President Akufo-Addo’s performance in the fight against corruption had been abysmal.
“I think so far the President, probably, hasn’t heard. Maybe, we need to repeat it more forcefully for him to hear that he is part of the criminal syndicates at the Jubilee House – the President is certainly part. All these corruptions cannot happen without the President’s involvement,” he claimed.
This comment has since attracted a barrage of attacks, especially from Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who described the comment as unprofessional, baseless and non-factual.
To calm nerves, the legal practitioner, in a letter issued on Sunday, 24 July 2022, has retracted and apologised for making such comments linked to President Akufo-Addo.
He explained that his comments were out of emotion considering the high levels of corruption in the country.
“In the heat of the discussion, I passionately expressed my disgust at the inaction of the Presidency in dealing with certain matters bothering on corruption.
“I do, hereby, retract and apologise for the expression purporting to connect the president of the Republic to crime,” a portion of the letter read.
Read his full letter below:
Retraction
Yesterday, I was a guest on Newsfile where issues including the nation-wrecking canker of corruption were discussed.
This was on the back of yet another frightening survey by the collaboration of two state institutions – CHRAJ and GSS revealing the endemic level of actual corruption in Ghana today.
In the heat of the discussion, I passionately expressed my disgust at the inaction of the Presidency in dealing with certain matters bothering on corruption.
I do, hereby, retract and apologise for the expression purporting to connect the President of the Republic to crime.
Signed, Martin Kpebu.