A public disagreement between Ghanaian Member of Parliament Kwame Asare Obeng, known as A Plus, and Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine has concluded with a formal apology from A Plus. The dispute originated from accusations made by A Plus against Dr. Ayine, alleging interference in a parliamentary sanitation levy deal and bribery of the Parliamentary Appointment Committee. A Plus claimed Dr. Ayine used funds received from an East Legon resident, Mr. Sledge, to favor close associates. Dr. Ayine vehemently denied these accusations in a press conference, challenging A Plus to provide evidence. Initially, A Plus responded with insults directed at the Attorney General via social media, further escalating the conflict.
However, A Plus has since retracted his statements and issued a comprehensive apology. He attributed the inflammatory social media posts, which labeled the Attorney General a thief and corrupt, to an impersonator using a fake account bearing his name and image. This account, despite having a verification badge, was not under his control, A Plus explained. He emphasized that his official statements on the sanitation levy, which did not contain the accusations of corruption or theft, were published on his verified Facebook page and invited the public to review them for accuracy. A Plus highlighted the ease with which impersonation can occur on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where verification badges can be obtained through paid subscriptions.
The disagreement between A Plus and Dr. Ayine also involved a separate scandal concerning the National Service Secretariat (NSS) and alleged ghost names. Dr. Ayine had previously alluded to an MP receiving money to suppress media coverage of this scandal. A Plus admitted to assisting an individual accused in the NSS case, but denied accepting any payment or attempting to suppress the story. He explained that he merely facilitated media engagement for the accused, who claimed to be falsely implicated, given A Plus’s role as a media personality and shareholder in a media company. He framed his involvement as supporting the accused’s right to be heard and cited past instances where he had similarly assisted government appointees who were later exonerated.
Furthermore, A Plus addressed his Facebook response to Dr. Ayine’s press conference. While acknowledging authorship of the post, he admitted to using inappropriate language and tone. He expressed regret for his choice of words and extended a sincere apology to Dr. Ayine, the public, the NDC party, and Parliament, retracting his earlier statements. A Plus accepted full responsibility for his actions and, as a demonstration of his remorse, deleted the offending Facebook post. He acknowledged that he could have conveyed his point more respectfully and constructively.
A Plus underscored the importance of the fight against corruption as a shared national priority, particularly within the context of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration and the NDC government. He stressed the need for integrity, fairness, and mutual respect in pursuing this objective. His apology concludes with a call for unity and sincerity, prioritizing the national interest and the well-being of the Ghanaian people.
The incident highlights the potential for misinformation and impersonation on social media platforms and the importance of verifying information from official sources. It also underscores the significance of maintaining respectful dialogue, even in the midst of disagreements, especially for public figures entrusted with representing the interests of the people. A Plus’s acknowledgment of his lapse in judgment and his subsequent apology serve as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with public office and the need for accountability in public discourse. His retraction and apology aim to de-escalate the situation and refocus attention on the broader national goals of fighting corruption and serving the Ghanaian people.
