The Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper has dismissed calls for the Director General of Ghana Maritime Authority to be dismissed, following allegations of financial malfeasance.
“That’s not how good governance works,” he said.
The veteran journalist told Samson Lardy Anyenini on news analysis programme, Newsfile on Saturday November 3 , that the state must “go through a proper investigation after which you [government] rely on the findings to deal with him”.
Responding to claims, Mr Owusu simply said he had never denied ownership of the hotel.
“The Director-General [himself] has not refuted the allegation that he owns Luxe Suites Hotel so when I see some of you going to the hotel, taking pictures and putting them on social media, it is another journalistic mischief,” he said at the press conference.
He also said GH¢135,000 for the party was “for an estimated 500 people and not 100 as alleged”.
Assessing Mr. Owusu’s reaction to the allegations, Kweku Baako said the D-G’s posture does not help his course.
The journalist argued that the Maritime boss had attacked sensitivities of the citizenry, especially “considering we are in an economy that is challenged”.
He, however, added that for the right thing to be done, a proper investigation must be conducted into the matter and for the state to check if the assets and money spent were authorised by due process.
Defamation?
Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu who was also on the show noted that Mr. Owusu may find it difficult to make a case for defamation in court as he hinted.
Martin Kpebu
Martin Kpebu also said the D-G must be ready to prove that what journalists said about the issue were false before he can head to court.