Fact check: Lying Allotey Jacobs exposed; Attivor resigned

According to media reports, NDC Central Regional Chairman, Allotey Jacobs disclosed on Accra-based Peace FM that Dzifa Attivor was sacked by the then president John Mahama and never resigned on her own accord as the public was made to believe.

Dzifa Attivor was involved in a scandal that till date haunts the opposition NDC and contributed to the impression formed ahead of the 2016 general elections that they were corrupt and mismanaged the little resources of the country

The scandal arose from the government’s decision through her Ministry to spend a monstrous sum of GHC3.6 million on re-branding of some 116 MMT buses much to the displeasure of cross section of Ghanaians.

The subsequent agitations forced her to tender her resignation according to the then government’s communicated information.

Allotey Jacobs comments sharply contrast a statement signed by her special assistant Egypt Kudoto to announce her resignation in 2015

Portions of the statement read: “Hon. Mrs. Dzifa Attivor, Minister of Transport wishes to inform the good people of Ghana that, as the Minister with oversight responsibility for the activities of the Metro Mass Transit (MMT).

“She has tendered in her resignation as Minister due to the current issues surrounding the branding of the 116 buses.

“She further wants to take the opportunity to thank her party for the opportunity offered her to serve, first as a Deputy Minister of Transport under the late John Evans Atta Mills, and later as the Substantive Minister. Mrs. Attivor also wishes to thank the President sincerely for the honour to serve in his government. She has already communicated this decision to His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama through the Chief of Staff, Mr. Julius Debrah."

The then Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, after public outcry and outrage directed the Attorney General to retrieve an amount of GHC1.9 million from Smarttys Productions, the private firm, which got the contract to brand the 116 intra-city government buses

Though he failed to provide any evidence to back his claims, Allotey Jacobs’ disclosure, that she was shown the exit by former President Mahama has raised question marks over the resignation of Dzifa Attivor and the real reason she left the Ministry.

The NDC Central Region Chairman's position contradicts the official communication from the government at the time and the letter signed by her special assistant