Akufo-Addo government not spying on NDC – Oppong Nkrumah

The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has refuted claims that the Akufo-Addo administration is spying on officials of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The NDC claims the government has bugged its offices following the circulation of recordings from a meeting involving its National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and other members.

The National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi has responded to the leaked tape saying the government is engaged in “illegal espionage.”

“We know the government is engaged in illegal espionage activities in this country; employing state resources and the national security apparatus to spy on political opponents.”

In the audio, a voice believed to be that of Mr Ofosu Ampofo is heard telling party communicators to take the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa to the cleaners.

He is also heard saying he endorses verbal attacks on the Peace Council Chairman, Professor Emmanuel Asante.

But the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah addressing the press on Thursday, 28 February 2019 stated that government has not bugged any political party office.

“The government of Ghana, as a matter of policy and practice, does not bug the offices or homes of political parties and their leadership. Indeed, it is not the policy or practice of the government to illegally interfere with the privacy or communication of persons or organisations in Ghana.”

He noted: “Whilst President Akufo-Addo’s administration cannot speak for past administrations, including the immediate-past NDC administration, this administration does not and has not bugged offices of political parties, its key actors, individuals or organisations for that matter”.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah added that the practice of “accusing the state and seeking to portray to the global community of democratic watchers that the state is involved in some illegality, is unpatriotic and has the potential to undermine the growing respect that Ghana has for its resilient democracy and respect for rule of law”.