Obed Asamoah: I am innocent of bribery allegations

Obed Asamoah, was the Attorney General under the Rawlings administration The Attorney General under the Rawlings-led government Dr. Obed Asamoah has pleaded innocent in the case of bribery scandal that has rocked some members of the then government. He told Joy News at the time he took over as Attorney General in 1993, the contract with the UK construction firm; Mabey & Jones had been signed with its modus operandi clearly firmed up. Several members of the then NDC government, some of who are in President Mills administration, stand accused of collecting bribes from the construction firm, before high profile projects were undertaken, and Dr. Asamoah’s name had come up. He was then a member of the Finance Committee, and the principal legal advisor of government at the time these illegal payments were made. Asked if he suspected any shady deals by the company with his colleagues Dr. Asamoah answered; “I did not, because I didn’t know anything about this. No official discussed anything like this with me. Even at the time I assumed the position as the AG this contract didn’t come to our notice." He also argued some of the ministries had their own legal officers who entered into the certain agreements without recourse to the Principal legal advisor, the AG. He said the Finance Committee at the time did not approve contract, and expressed utter shock the linkage to the scandal. He insisted he could not be bribed into taking decisions that will be detrimental to the country. Dr. Asamoah also pointed some of the expatriates could possibly be framing up some of his colleagues, insisting, the monies involved is too small to be called a bribe. He lauded President Mills’ directive for a swift investigation into the matter in order for the full details to unfold. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana