[ 2016-05-13 ]

Mahama ‘did not carry conviction of truth-telling’ in bribe question - Prof. Att
Law Professor Ken Attafuah has expressed
disappointment in the President for hesitating in
answering a question on whether he has ever been
offered a bribe.


The criminologist said the President’s
hesitating answers showed that he “did not carry
the conviction of truth-telling”.


The President has been the subject of jokes on
social media with transcripts of the BBC interview
and the video, making rippling rounds on the
internet. The president granted an interview
Thursday after the UK summit on fighting global
corruption.


After a few questions, BBC Focus on Africa
presenter, Peter Okwoche asked the President,
‘have you been offered a bribe before?’. The
president hesitated a bit before answering.

The president did come round to answer the
question by stating categorically that he has not
taken a bribe.

Weighing in on the issue, the Dean of the Faculty
of Law of Central University, Prof. Ken Attafuah
said on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Friday, “I
thought that the president was doing well
throughout the interview, I mean he was very
natural until that question was posed.”

He said the president’s deposition was not good
enough for a man noted for his communication
skills and throwing back the question to the
interviewer was completely unnecessary.

“He gave an indication of someone who was
thinking of how to answer the question… A simple
yes or no straight away would have been clear,”
Prof Ken Attafuah assessed.

Prof. Ataafuah said it doesn't matter whether the
President took a bribe in his previous life as a
private citizen, John Dramani Mahama before he
even entered a political office.

He said the question was clear devoid of any
ambiguity and no requirement for further and
better particulars.

"And that is not to say that he was lying. It is
the way he answered the question," the lawyer
indicated.

The criminologist explained that it did not matter
if the President has been offered a bribe as an
MP, Vice-President or President.

Nonetheless, Professor Attafuah said he is
“prepared to take [the President] on his
word.”

Source - Myjoyonline.com

... go Back