There have been recent releases of tape recordings by the two major parties – the New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress – pointing fingers at political and public figures in order to promote their political ambitions.
Currently, an audio tape, expressing the intent of the I.C.G.C Head Pastor to the effect that the promise of free education to every Ghanaian is deceptive and infeasible, has become the pivot of several heated arguments in the media and public domain.
Dr. Mensah Otabil is quoted in the tape to have downplayed the opposition New Patriotic Party’s promise of free S.H.S and this has generated a barrage of criticisms, therefore compelling him to brief the media of the circumstances that called for his remarks.
Addressing the media at his church premises on Monday, November 12, Dr. Mensah Otabil reproved the ruling NDC for perpetuating his statements in the political ambience, thereby exposing him to public ridicule. He pointed out that his “pulpit is not for politics” and should not be used for any malicious agenda.
He noted that his statements on the tape have been doctored and distorted by those bent on defaming him and therefore appealed to President John Mahama to call his party surrogates to order.
However, the Deputy Finance Minister, Fiifi Kwetey, has resented the comments made by Dr. Mensah Otabil saying “he (Pastor Otabil) failed to set the records straight” in his address to the media.
Hon. Fiifi Kwetey challenged him to refute the statements on the tape if he did not utter them. To him, the time he made the remarks whether a decade ago or not is irrelevant to the purpose of the tape.
In an interview on Citi FM, Fiifi Kwetey said “I would have thought that in setting the records straight what he would have done was to specifically tell the people of Ghana what exactly those distortions are, what words are being changed, what words are being mutilated; in order for the people of Ghana to have a clear understanding of what he has to say."
"For instance I would have very much wanted to know whether when Pastor Mensa Otabil said for instance, that 'it is the responsibility of parents to pay the fees of their children'... [I want to know] when specifically he said words to the effect that, 'I want my child when he grows up to know that I paid your school fees'. [I want to know] Whether those words were spoken for or by him; and if those words truly were spoken by him, whether he is saying today that somehow his views relating to this matter have changed two weeks on, two years on, fifty years on?"
He further proposed that Dr. Otabil should clearly reveal his stance on the issue of free S.H.S and implored him to lay to rest the brouhaha about his tape.
"If [Pastor] Otabil fundamentally, and according to his beliefs and philosophy, he believes for instance that it is the responsibility of parents to pay for the education of their children, regardless of whether there is any debate happening in the country about free or not free education, those are his views, that is his philosophy and that philosophy stands…people of Ghana continue to respect you, your views clearly show wisdom, please don’t do this, you are not doing your image any good.", he stated.
Source: ADU GYAMFI AMEYAW
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