News:
February 12, 2021
Minister-designate for Energy Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh has apologized to former President John Dramani Mahama over allegations made against him, regarding the 2019 Senior High school (SHS) placement when he appeared before the Appointment Committee on Friday, February 12, 2021.
There was confusion at the Black Star Square on September 16, 2019, following a process to secure placements for Junior High School graduates. At least two teenagers were reported to have collapsed at the venue as frustrated prospective candidates and parents seek admission.
Responding to the development at the time following huge outcry from the public, the former Education Minister, Dr Opoku-Prempeh noted that many of those who stormed the Independence Square were bused there to cause confusion and accused the former president for being behind the act.
The nominee for the Energy sector told the Committee he cannot prove the allegation against the former President John Mahama because the information he relied on he cannot bring it to the Committee or make it available.
“That is why I have withdrawn and apologized”, the nominee when pushed further by the Tamale North lawmaker Suhuyini Alhassan Sayibu that when questioned earlier he said he could have said it in another way means he was still holding on to his allegation. But with the intervention of the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh apologized.
The Tamale North MP pointed out at the Committee saying, “let us get something straight Mr. Chairman, it is not that I am hurt, it is about the respect we should attach to each other and especially people who have served in high office should be respected”.
In a related development, the former Education Minister was queried on why at such a privileged position he still took a scholarship to study at Harvard University Senior Executive in National and International Security at eleven thousand two hundred dollars, and twelve thousand as living allowance, when he knew very well, there are poor people in his constituency who are brilliant and needed scholarship.
. Dr. Mathew Opoku-Prempeh told the Committee the administrator then held a press conference on the issue revealing that the scholarship was given to members of both the NPP and the NDC MPs.
“He did not want to mention names and the particular course I went for I have a colleague in the NDC who went for that same course, I don’t regret it was done for me if I have same opportunity I would do it again”.
And told the Committee that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund) has also established that the allowance was not twelve thousand dollars as was put out in the public domain, there was a press conference to clarify that and can be accessed.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com