First Lady Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo’s wife has been accused of conflict on interest in the matter involving Startimes and the Ministry of Communications in which government is awarding a ‘sweetheart’ contract to the Chinese media giant.
NDC Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Hon Ras Mubarak who serves on Parliament’s Communications Committee has condemned the transaction and has also described the Startimes’ generous sponsorship for the First Lady’s NGO as bothering on conflict of interest. The Member of Parliament argued on an Accra based radio station, joy fm, that the proximity of the sponsorship to First Lady Rebecca Akuffo-Addo and the ‘sweetheart deal’ being offered to Startimes by the Ministry of Communications reveals a potential conflict of interest.
Whereas Lawyer Martin Kpebu agrees with the thin line between the First Lady’s office and Public Officers, he insists conflict on interest does not arise.
However contributing to the discussion on joy fm, Lawyer Kpebu emphasized the need to clearly define the office of the First Lady since it is funded with the taxpayers’ money.
He further added that it will be more appropriate for the First Lady to return the gift from Startimes to save the image of her office from the ongoing Startimes, GIBA and Ministry of Communications brouhaha over digital migration.