NDC Member of Parliament for Juaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh says he’ll not be surprised if the Akufo Addo government which he describes as vindictive, plot to have businessman Ibrahim Mahama hauled before court for not paying his TV license fee.
According to him, the high level of hatred for Mr Mahama by some elements in government and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has reached the realms of absurdity, as his detractors move heaven and earth to nail him.
Issues about Ibrahim Mahama who’s brother of ex President John Mahama has in the past two weeks dominated the headlines.
The business tycoon was first picked up by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over several dud cheques he issued to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) which could not be honoured.
He has been ordered to pay GH¢12.7m to the state by May 8, 2017. The amount represents duty for construction equipment he cleared at the Tema Port for which he issued the said cheques.
On Saturday, Ibrahim Mahama, was arraigned at the special SSNIT Court Saturday for his company’s inability to pay the SSNIT contributions of it’s staff.
Engineers and Planners together with its Owner and Directors failed to pay SSNIT contributions of their employees for the periods February 2015 to July 2015 and June 2016 to October 2016.
The unpaid contributions amounted to about 700,000 cedis.The substantive amount however has attracted a penalty of 400,000 cedis, brings the total indebtedness to SSNIT to over one million Ghana cedis. But the company in a statement claimed it has since the suit settled its debt.
But speaking on Adom TV, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the government is unjustifiably persecuting Mr Mahama and trying relentlessly to tarnish his reputation.
“I’ll not be surprised if tomorrow he’s hauled before the law court with the charge that he jumped the red light, the next time, he’ll be in another court with the claim that he has not paid his TV license fee. Should he be persecuted because he’s a brother of a former president when he’s doing legitimate business? A leading member of the governing party has vowed publicly to kill himself if Ibrahim Mahama is not jailed, and so in order that the person does not carry out his threat of killing himself, the businessman must be harrassed and suffer for no wrong done. Ibrahim Mahama is being unfairly treated.