Lordina Mahama
Former President John Dramani Mahama has thrown a challenge to President Akufo-Addo to arrest him and his wife, Lordina Mahama, over the DKM scandal that rocked some parts of the country, making hundreds of Ghanaians lose their monies.
The DKM microfinance scam was a major campaign issue ahead of the December 7, 2016 elections, with residents of the Brong-Ahafo Region lambasting John Mahama and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration for their ordeal.
It’s believed that Martin Delle, the proprietor of the finance house, is a friend of the former president.
However, speaking at the end of the NDC’s ‘unity walk’ at Techiman in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Mr John Mahama argued that he and Lordina are not owners of DKM and that any attempt to investigate them will be futile.
“Thankfully, they are now in power and I will want them to prosecute me and the first lady if it is true the DKM company belonged to us,” Mahama stated.
He was, however, quiet on other cases of his administration, which are under investigation, including financial scandal at COCOBOD in which his wife is alleged to be involved.
Lordina Mahama is said to be linked to several stinky deals under her husband’s administration.
The former president, who led the ‘unity walk’ – now dubbed ‘Mahama Walk’ because of the absence of other potential presidential hopefuls of the party, said he and his wife were vilified by the NPP during the 2016 electioneering period and wondered why its members had suddenly gone quiet over the matter after winning the elections.
Thousands of customers of DKM Microfinance Company lost their investments, running into millions of Ghana cedis, after the owners of the company had invested in unapproved ventures and lost their funds.
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) subsequently confiscated the assets of the company and appointed the Registrar General’s Department as official liquidator.
Mr Mahama said the government’s silence on claims that he owns the company had vindicated him.
“When the DKM issue came up, the NPP accused my wife and me of owning that company. So they said when they come into power, they will retrieve the money from us and give it back to those it was taken from. By God’s grace today, they are now in power. I challenge them to investigate the ownership of DKM. If DKM is owned by my wife and me, arrest us but they are now very quiet.
“For lies, if you tell one, you have to keep telling lies to save yourself. It is said that you can lie to win power but you can’t govern a nation with lies,” he claimed.
The former president, who has in recent times asked NDC supporters to attend court sessions in solidarity with his appointees who may be facing corruption charges, indicated that they are not afraid of the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor – which is to prosecute former and current public officials over corruption charges.
Mr John Mahama said although they are not scared of such an office, NDC members should support their colleagues who are hauled before it.
He also advised the members not to make any premature judgement on their colleagues who are dragged before the special prosecutor over corruption allegations.
“We, the members of NDC, are not scared –whether Special Prosecutor, Attorney General or state attorney, we are not scared.
“We, the NDC members, should not pass judgement on our colleagues because they are deemed innocent until they are proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction. So as long as they have not been proven guilty, it is our duty to show them some solidarity and make sure that at least they have proper legal representation,” he added.
A DAILY GUIDE Report