Barely 24 hours after dismissing corruption allegation against him for accepting a car gift, President John Mahama has further clarified his decision, saying American cars are not his ‘taste’.
President Mahama has come under the cosh over the past week following a report that he accepted a Ford Expedition (an American made vehicle) gift from Djibril Kanazoe, a Burkinabe contractor who once was awarded two contracts (at different times) by the state.
The Burkinabe was contracted to build a wall at a cost of $500,000 for the Ghana Embassy in Ouagadougou as well as the Dodo Pepesu to Nkwanta stretch on the Eastern Corridor road. The contractor, in the investigative report, admitted giving out the car reportedly worth about $100,000, for which the President called to thank him.
On Wednesday, the President told a gathering at Ashaiman that the corruption bribery and corruption allegation trumpeted by the opposition is “baseless.”
He said: “The allegation of corruption is baseless. Baseless accusations won’t win you the Presidency. Ghanaians are discerning and I believe come November 7, they will make their decision.”
And during a breakfast meeting with the clergy at the Flagstaff House Thursday, President Mahama also said “I don’t use Fords. I don’t like American cars. I use Japanese cars. Toyota is my car.”
“The issue of a Ford Expedition, I have never been under the illusion that gift was a gift to the State and it has never been used for my personal comfort,” he added.
President Mahama indicated that he is in the know of a petition before the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, saying he is ready to respond when contacted.
“It is matter for the Commission on Human Rights. I hear there is a petition there and appropriately, we will respond to it.”
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