The Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Akosua Frema
Osei-Opare, has given the Editor of The Herald, Larry Alans Dogbey, a 24 hour ultimatum to
retract a publication accusing her of corruption at the Bulk Oil Storage and
Transportation Company Limited (BOST).
Lawyer for the Chief of Staff,
Gary Nimako Marfo of Marfo & Associates, in a letter addressed to Mr Dogbey
indicated that the said publication was defamatory with criminal connotations.
“We are instructed to demand
an immediate retraction and apology for the malicious and defamatory
publication within twenty-four (24) hours upon receipt of this letter.
"Please be informed that we have our client’s firm
instructions to commence legal proceedings against you to vindicate her
grievances without further recourse to you should you fail to accede to our
request within the period stated supra,” the letter dated Wednesday, August 10,
2022 stated.
Publication
On Wednesday, August 3, 2022, The Herald published
a story with the headline “More rot emerge from BOST with Chief of Staff Named again.”
The story alleged that an auction of some cars at BOST were
halted by the Chief Staff with the cars allotted to politicians and
sympathisers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at knockdown prices.
Auction took place
The letter from Lawyer Nimako
stated that the said public auction that The Herald claimed never took place actually
happened and was conducted by Manellis Mart Auctions with payments made to
BOST.
“We wish to further state that
the Notice of the Auction was published in the Daily Graphic, Friday, April 29, 2022 as follows
“Auction Sale of Unserviceable Vehicles at BOST on 06/05/2022 at 10AM. It is
needless to point out that the auction of the said unserviceable vehicles was a
public auction sanctioned by the Public Procurement Authority.
"Regrettably, you did not
see the need to verify the source of your information from official sources
because of your desperate attempt to malign and tarnish the hard won reputation
of our client,” the letter said.
The letter added that the said beneficiaries of the
auctioned cars had nothing to do with political party affiliation.
“It is unfortunate that you
sought to drag the name of the Chief of Staff into decisions that are either
purely managerial or that of the Board of Directors of BOST “ the letter
stated.
Writer’s email: emma.hawkson@graphic.com.gh