From NPP Judge to Otumfuo Shocking Akufo-Addo: Five explosive revelations in Manasseh Azure’s book

In his new book dubbed, ‘The President Ghana Never Got’, ace investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni made some explosive and interesting revelations about the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government.

Titled ‘The President Ghana Never Got’, the book delves into the hidden reasons behind key judicial appointments, shocking political strategies, and allegations of corruption during President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo‘s administration.

Here are five explosive details the book revealed

1.NPP PC becoming Supreme Court Judge

One of the revelations in the book is the account of how Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, rose to the Supreme Court of Ghana.

In the 17th chapter, titled How ‘One Supreme Court Judge Was Appointed to Appease Another’, Manasseh reveals that Justice Gaewu’s appointment was not merely a matter of political favoritism, as widely speculated, but a calculated move to placate a senior judge.

According to the book, President Akufo-Addo appointed Justice Gaewu to the Supreme Court as an appeasement to Justice Jones Mawulorm Dotse, a now-retired Supreme Court judge who was overlooked twice for top positions, Chief Justice and Speaker of Parliament.

2.Otumfuo shocking Akufo-Addo over NAPO’s appointment

The book also offers an inside look at the political machinations surrounding the selection of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO) as the running mate of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming elections.

According to Manasseh, President Akufo-Addo was blindsided by the choice, learning of it from the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, before it was officially communicated to him.

The book reveals that three weeks before Dr. Bawumia officially informed the President of his decision, the Asantehene had already mentioned it to Akufo-Addo, leaving the President shocked.

3.COVID-19 corruption scandal

Manasseh details how the government allegedly exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to engage in various corrupt activities, particularly during disinfection exercises and COVID-19 testing.

In chapter 30, titled The Scandal Akufo-Addo Initiated, Manasseh claims that the government’s handling of the pandemic was marred by greed, with contracts being awarded to private contractors at inflated prices.

He alleges that the disinfection exercises ordered by the government, which cost the state hundreds of millions of cedis, were largely unnecessary according to the World Health Organization.

Moreover, the book exposes the shady dealings behind COVID-19 testing at Ghana’s airports, where travelers were charged exorbitant fees for antigen tests conducted by a hastily formed company, Frontiers Healthcare Services Limited.

Manasseh describes this as “the biggest fraud on Ghanaians and travelers to Ghana,” with the company reportedly earning $84 million before disappearing.

4.Chief of Staff paying financial inducement in ministerial approvals

The book also sheds light on a longstanding practice of financial inducement within Ghana’s Parliament.

According to Manasseh, the Chief of Staff’s office at Jubilee House has been funnelling money to members of Parliament’s Appointment Committee to secure the approval of ministerial nominees.

This practice, which reportedly dates back to the presidency of John Evans Atta Mills, has continued under Akufo-Addo’s administration, with allegations that the Chief of Staff periodically sends money to the committee during vetting processes.

5.Ken Ofori-Atta profiting from Ghana’s debt crises

In a particular chapter, Manasseh reveals how some individuals within the Akufo-Addo government profited from Ghana’s mounting debt crisis.

He details how former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s bank, Databank, earned millions of dollars from facilitating the country’s borrowing, even as Ghana sank deeper into debt.

According to documents obtained by Manasseh, Databank made a staggering $9.2 million between 2018 and 2021 from its role in arranging both international and domestic loans for the government.