‘Bagbin is a populist eloquent’

STORY: EMELIA N. A. ARYEE, PIJ INTERN
Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has described as “a populist eloquent” Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, who only take delight in making sweeping statements.

He was reacting on Peace FM’s flagship program Kokrokoo yesterday on earlier comments by the latter that he, Otchere-Darko had misled members of the Ghana Real estate Development Association(GREADA) on the STX Korean housing deal.

The minister on Tuesday during the meet-the-press series in Accra, said the Executive Director has a “shallow knowledge and understanding” about the housing deal thus misleading GREDA and the people of Ghana to believe that the deal is worthless.

Hon Bagbin alleged that it is he of Mr Otchere-Darko whose action about the deal charged the minority in parliament to rise against the deal and called on President Mills for the deal’s withdrawal which is nothing but a mere “naked jealousy”.

He said his outfit obtained its information from government, which can still found on the institute’s website adding that “whatever blame should be placed on the door step of government”.
“We got all the documents and information concerning the transaction from the government and they are still on our website. Anyone who wants to verify can do so can get it from there. We have not misled anybody period.

… How can one sign a contract without knowing about the deal, it is like someone tells you to give him GH¢ 150 billion to get you three cars knowing there are different types of cars but you didn’t know the exact type the person is bringing to you,

…now the person brings you Tico cars which might not be the one you were expecting but meanwhile you have already signed the deal and nothing more could be done,” he stressed.
Mr Otchere-Darko, on that score, urged the minister to have a “sense of balance and proportionality” with the deal baring the fact that people are not getting places to live.

Following Mr Otchere-Darko’s action, the minister accused the minority MPs of a deliberate attempt to distort the fact of the transaction so as to “cause unnecessary confusion”.