Sketchy details have started emerging about the three government ministries supposedly being οΏ½controlledοΏ½ by Lawyer Tony Lithur who represented President John Dramani Mahama in the landmark 2012 election petition at the Supreme Court.
On the infamous VikiLeaks tape, the sacked Deputy Minister of Communications, Victoria Hamah, was heard saying among other things that οΏ½Tony Lithur controls three Ministries.οΏ½
Mr Lithur and his wife, Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Children, Gender and Social Protection are said to be very influential and powerful in the Mahama administration.
This comment by Victoria Hamah has therefore set many, including members of the Mahama-led administration, wondering which of the several government Ministries he could be exercising such level of controls over, as alleged by the embattled former deputy minister.
Days after she was relieved of her appointment for making this and other stunning revelations, DAILY GUIDE has been picking leaks and leads from government circles as to which ministries Mr Lithur has some level of influence on.
The first name that popped-up was that of his wifeοΏ½s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
This, according to some political analysts, could be part of the reasons why Victoria Hamah doubted why one of her own colleagues, Rachel Florence Appoh, Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, would think of fighting her boss, Nana Oye, a woman whose husband wields so much influence in the Mahama administration.
Others have also talked of Mr LithurοΏ½s overwhelming influence on the Ministry of Justice and Attorney GeneralοΏ½s Department headed by Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong, a senior partner at LithurBrew and Co, a flourishing law firm in Accra.
Until her appointment as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Appiah Opong was working with Mr Lithur in the same chambers, thereby giving reason for people to believe Victoria HamahοΏ½s claim that he indeed wields a great deal of influence at the Ministry.
Until her appointment as Attorney General, Mrs Appiah-Opong was not known in political circles.
There was strong speculation that Mr Lithur was going to be appointed the Attorney General until the name of his wife emerged and later his partner at LithurBrew and Co as the Attorney General.
Some have also tried to draw a link between the recent appointment of Mr Lithur as Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) to some level of influence at the Ministry of Transport headed by Dzifa Attivor.
Holding such a key position in the countryοΏ½s aviation industry, some believe that Mr Lithur could be part of those calling the shots at the Transport Ministry, especially with high profile projects under the aviation sector; while others have talked of his influence on President MahamaοΏ½s appointees, some of who are by far his juniors and used to work with him at the famous οΏ½Law TrustοΏ½ chambers located at Adabraka in Accra.
Even though the issue has sparked a raging controversy, giving cause for his wife Nana Oye, who was also mentioned for allegedly meeting the nine-member Supreme Court judges, to deny the allegation, Mr Lithur has kept mum over the issue, thereby giving room for the speculation to fester.
Attempts to speak to Mr Lithur however proved unsuccessful since he did not respond to calls put to his mobile phone.
Victoria Hamah, highlighting the influence of the Lithurs in the Mahama administration, was said to have advised Rachel Appoh to stop fighting a losing battle with her boss Nana Oye.
οΏ½That Rachel is not wise. When I told her, she said (inaudible voice). She didnοΏ½t even know Oye Lithur was Tony LithurοΏ½s wife. She went somewhere and said, οΏ½oh this lawyerοΏ½ (during the court case); that time they had not started their brawl. οΏ½This lawyer looks handsomeοΏ½ and people addressed her that, that (Tony Lithur) is OyeοΏ½s husband.
οΏ½You want the President to choose you, Rachel Appoh, [who couldnοΏ½t even express yourself well during your vetting] over his loyal friendοΏ½s wife who is always with them in the house. Oye has access to the house (inaudible voice).You were even stopped when going to the PresidentοΏ½s house. Soldiers stopped you outside and called for Madam to decide whether they should let you in,οΏ½ she stated.
Source: Charles Takyi-Boadu/Daily Guide
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