Spio- Garbrah: I�m Not A Member Of The NDC Gov�t

Ever since he announced his intention to contest the presidential primaries of the governing NDC, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has been stoking the embers of controversy with every radio interview he grants. His latest statement that he is NOT a member of the government despite the fact he is serving on the AngloGold Ghana Board is sure to ruffle some feathers.

Dr. Spio-Garbrah says people should not misconstrue his presence on the Anglogold Ghana Board, to mean he is representing the government, and emphatically stated that he is not part of the Mills' administration. He pointed out that if one is fortunate to represent the government�s interests in a specific area, that does not necessarily mean he or she is a member of that government.

�The government can hire a law firm or a contractor to construct a road�they will be paid for the entire contract�But, this does not make you a member of the government�simply because you are building a school for the government or offering legal services for the government,� he said.

Dr. Spio Garbrah has been a constant critic of the Mills� administration and has on numerous occasions �pissed in� from without by labeling appointees of the government, Team B Ministers. To some, it was perhaps because President Mills was unwilling to give him a Ministerial role.

But �The Enquirer� newspaper published in its Monday, May 23rd edition that �claims by Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, one the contestants for the NDC flagbearership slot, that he has not been offered any appointment by President J. E.A Mills is false. Dr. Spio-Garbrah is the government of Ghana representative on the Anglogold Ashanti Board of Directors. That appointment is solely made by the President by virtue of the fact that Ghana has shares in Anglogold Ashanti. Dr. Spio-Garbrah was appointed by President Mills to take over from Mr. J.H. Mensah, who represented Ghana on the board during the Kufuor administration,� the paper said.

However, speaking in an interview on the Gold Newspaper Review on Radio Gold, Dr. Spio Garbrah threw down the gauntlet to all political lecturers in the country, to openly debate him on the subject, if they felt his explanations about not being a member of the government was wrong; even though he was representing the NDC government on the Anglogold Ashanti board.

��if any political lecturer proves me wrong, then it means I�ve failed my political science class,� he added.

Asked about media reports detailing the amount of money he earns for serving on the AngloGold Board, the Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) flatly refused to confirm or deny the stories saying Ghanaians can check with the Gold Company if that was what he is paid.

In its Tuesday, May 24 edition, the �Daily Dispatch� said its investigations have revealed that Dr Spio-Garbrah, who chose to serve on the Anglogold Ashanti Board, earns at least US$120,000 a year and in addition, he wanted to be made the Chairman of at least two other boards, GETFund and COCOBOD.

Prior to this publication, �The Enquirer� newspaper reported on Monday that �Dr. Spio-Garbrah earns over $120,000 annually for serving on the Anglogold. That is aside of what he would take for serving on sub-committees of the board.�

Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/Peacefmonline.com/GIJ