Will you refund GNPC’s ¢750,000 – TV3’s Johnnie Hughes asks Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

Johnnie Hughes, a journalist with the Media General Group, in a Facebook post, has sought to ask, if the First Lady, will also refund the monies her foundation received from the GNPC, in October 2018, that generated national controversy.

This is coming in the light of the First Lady’s decision to refund the backdated salary payments, resulting from the decision by the country’s parliament to award £2,500-a-month salaries to the wives of the president and vice-president as the country faces economic turbulence.

Rebecca Akufo-Addo, 70, the first lady, and Samira Bawumia, 40, the wife of the vice-president, who had been paid, the same money as a cabinet minister for their supportive roles in government, infuriated Ghanaians, who reacted with fury over this, forcing her subsequent rejection of same.

In the Facebook post, Jonnie Hughes wrote that, “Will the First Lady go a step further to refund all other monies paid by other state agencies like the GNPC because there was a public outcry? Can that then be used as basis to ask the others to refund same? What principle is the First Lady trying to establish?” #Whew

Many will recall that, there was heated exchanges at the Public Accounts Committee(PAC) sittings in early September last year, over the GNPC’s allocations to Okyehene, EOCO, Rebecca Foundation and others, as during that viral sitting, Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George had asked why board of GNPC had to directly approve over five million cedis to be paid to the above mentioned individuals and entities without routing it through the GNPC foundation.

Board Secretary, Matilda Ohene who was present appeared to be struggling to answer the questions raised resulting in a follow up from Chairman for the Committee, James Klutse Avedzi. This was however greeted with disdain from deputy ranking member for the committee, Mohammed Hardi Tufeiru and the development brought proceedings to an abrupt end.

Ningo Prampram MP Samuel George had earlier produced October 29, 2019 letter from GNPC’s board secretary Matilda Ohene to the CEO, communicating the board’s approval of the donations and sponsorships, as some ¢400,000 went to support preparation for the Damba Festival, ¢300,000 to the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Okyehene, 1.5 million Ghana cedis to the Okyehene’s environment and greening project, and ¢550,000 to EOCO.

The Rebecca Foundation got ¢750,000 while $30,000 to the Ghana Boxing Association and ¢50,000 was donated to the Ghana Journalists Association.

This view of her refunding this also, has been a subject of discussion on social media right now, as political commentators from both the NDC and NPP have taken to social media to air their views. Whereas te NDC asserts she should, NPP activists, are also asking Mahama’s wife, to also refund the allowances, she was paid.

Commentary following his post, have however included the following:

Banat Menyanu writes “Personal conviction…. She hasn’t ask anyone to do same. If others want to take any action, they must do so per their own personal conviction.”

Gi Deon writes “Banat Menyanu dancing around the issue. The monies GNPC paid her foundation makes this salary money in question chicken change. And again with Johnnie Beresford Hughes, if she has the balls to refund from inception, she shouldn’t let it end here. She should refund all the state agency’s monies given her before Ghanaians will take her seriously.”

Stephen Baah writes “If she does you will get something to say……. If she doesn’t you will equally why something to say…. If she lays on the floor for you to walk on her you will say she’s not flat enough…………. SMH”

Nii Ampim Sackey writes “Were those other monies paid to her personally or to the office she occupies.”

Gi Deon writes “As for GNPC, they should pray this government stays in power for ever. The day power changes, all monies given to the first lady, Akim Abuakwa chief and likes will be refunded with interest. Tsatsu Tsikata was jailed for venturing into other fields not as if he’s squandered state money. The future is pregnant.”