Friends of Democracy Condemn Allegations against Speaker Bagbin as Baseless and Malicious

The Friends of Democracy-Ghana (FoD-Ghana) have strongly refuted allegations leveled against the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, regarding an alleged receipt of one million dollars from a businessman. The allegations were made by Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah, a broadcast journalist with Angel TV, but FoD-Ghana has dismissed them as “false, mischievous, and vicious.”

In a statement signed by its Secretary, Awudu Ishaq, the group described the claims as an orchestrated attempt by Afrifa Mensah and unnamed collaborators to tarnish the reputation of Speaker Bagbin. “This blatantly mischievous orchestration cannot represent the truth in the sight of right-thinking Ghanaians who know and appreciate the Speaker as steadfast, truthful, trustworthy, and incorruptible,” the statement asserted.

FoD-Ghana further criticized Afrifa Mensah for failing to provide evidence of the alleged bribe, questioning the journalist’s motivations and credibility. “For the many threats issued by Afrifa Mensah for the Speaker to respond, the source of the alleged corrupt money continues to remain under wraps. This penchant for targeting those who stand up to the government’s dictatorial tendencies is counterproductive to Ghana’s democratic progress,” the group said.

Highlighting Speaker Bagbin’s long-standing reputation for integrity and public service, FoD-Ghana rejected the notion that any financial dealings could tarnish his image. “For all his stellar years of service, Speaker Bagbin has maintained a legacy of enviable leadership. Afrifa Mensah must either provide evidence for his baseless allegations or offer an unreserved apology,” the group demanded.

The group also criticized Afrifa Mensah for allegedly serving the interests of unnamed groups seeking to undermine Speaker Bagbin, calling on him to focus on holding public officials accountable in accordance with journalistic ethics rather than engaging in character assassination.

FoD-Ghana ended its statement with a firm call for Afrifa Mensah to substantiate his claims or “forever keep his peace.”

This story will be updated as more details emerge.

Source: ghananewsonline.com.gh