News:
January 24, 2011
Former MP for Zebilla, Hon John Ndebugri has challenged the leadership of Parliament to thoroughly investigate the 48,000 dollar gold watch gift reportedly given to the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama by Ghana’s first Lady, Mrs Naadu Mills.
First Lady Ernestina Naadu Mills is reported to have given her counterpart in the United States, Michelle Obama, a gold watch valued at 48,000 dollars.
An AFP report culled by Yahoo News said the watch was a Backes and Strauss “Black Star of Ghana” watch, “crafted in 18 karat gold with diamonds and leather.”
The information about the gifts was published in the White House Federal Register.
The website of Backes and Strauss-the UK Company commissioned to manufacture the watch- has also corroborated the story by the US Federal Registry that the gift was presented to the Obamas by Ghana’s first lady Georgina Naadu Mills.
However, on Thursday January 20, when the story first broke, the Presidency issued a statement in which it said “Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills did NOT present Mrs. Obama with a Backes & Strauss wristwatch valued at $48,000, when the Obama Family paid a state visit to Ghana in the second week of July 2009.”
Speaking on Citi FM’s Saturday political talk show the ‘Big Issue’ John Ndebugri told Richard Sky that the government’s posture of trying frantically to deny the story is very mischievous.
He added that parliament must be tasked to investigate the issue to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the story.
“This matter ought to be thoroughly investigated by Parliament…it is important that Parliament investigate it. It should be investigated so we get to the bottom of the matter and understand why government us frantically denying this matter in the face of all these contradictory statements”.
Former MP for Zebilla, Hon John Ndebugri has challenged the leadership of Parliament to thoroughly investigate the 48,000 dollar gold watch gift reportedly given to the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama by Ghana’s first Lady, Mrs Naadu Mills.
First Lady Ernestina Naadu Mills is reported to have given her counterpart in the United States, Michelle Obama, a gold watch valued at 48,000 dollars.
An AFP report culled by Yahoo News said the watch was a Backes and Strauss “Black Star of Ghana” watch, “crafted in 18 karat gold with diamonds and leather.”
The information about the gifts was published in the White House Federal Register.
The website of Backes and Strauss-the UK Company commissioned to manufacture the watch- has also corroborated the story by the US Federal Registry that the gift was presented to the Obamas by Ghana’s first lady Georgina Naadu Mills.
However, on Thursday January 20, when the story first broke, the Presidency issued a statement in which it said “Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills did NOT present Mrs. Obama with a Backes & Strauss wristwatch valued at $48,000, when the Obama Family paid a state visit to Ghana in the second week of July 2009.”
Speaking on Citi FM’s Saturday political talk show the ‘Big Issue’ John Ndebugri told Richard Sky that the government’s posture of trying frantically to deny the story is very mischievous.
He added that parliament must be tasked to investigate the issue to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the story.
“This matter ought to be thoroughly investigated by Parliament…it is important that Parliament investigate it. It should be investigated so we get to the bottom of the matter and understand why government us frantically denying this matter in the face of all these contradictory statements”.
Source: citifmonline