Central Regional Minister and former National Women’s Organiser of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Ama Benyiwa-Doe, has rubbished a publication by the Today Newspaper that some top party hierarchy members have petitioned President Mills albeit informally to reshuffle her.
She has also denied reports that there are agitations within the NDC and leading officials in the Central region for her removal to save the image of the party. According to her, it is a ploy by her detractors who are envious of her position.
The Today newspaper, last Thursday, published that some party stalwarts have reportedly whispered into the ears of President Mills to reshuffle Hon Benyiwa-Doe because she has carved a niche as the “most inefficient government representative of all time in the Central region” and is always found at funerals dancing her heart out.
The newspaper further claimed there is no collaboration or cordial relationship between Madam Benyiwa-Doe and the DCEs in the region.
But speaking in an exclusive interview with peacefmonline.com, the former Gomoa West MP accused the Communications Director of the Central regional branch of the NDC, Ben Allotey Jacobs of being behind all her woes. According to her, it is obvious from the publication that Allotey Jacobs is the architect of the story concocted to tarnish her image.
She blames the sour relationship with Allotey Jacobs, which she maintains has exacerbated, to her refusal to grant him a contract.
“Allotey is behind all this because if you read the newspaper story very well, it gives lead to Allotey Jacobs as the source of the story. We do not have a good relation because he wanted a contract that does not exist and I couldn’t get it for him,” she claimed.
She alleged that Allotey Jacobs has solicited the help of all the bigwigs in the NDC to have her reshuffled and also connived with the Today newspaper to malign her.
“He has gone to almost everybody who matters from the Central region in Accra, petitioning them that I should be removed from my position. He has gone to Mr. Quayson, the Chairman of the Revenue Agencies Board, he has come to Kwesi Ahwoi and Ato Ahwoi with the same allegation; so I have ample evidence that he is behind all this… this is his handwork. Meanwhile, he was a CPP man and this is a CPP newspaper so the links are there,” she stated.
When peacefmonline.com reached Mr. Allotey Jacobs for his comments, he strenuously denied being the source of the story. According to him, though the Editor of the Today newspaper, Richmond Keelson is his friend, he had no hand in the said publication.
The ECG Board Member, who admitted that there is no love lost between himself and the Regional Minister, opined that it is possible Madam Benyiwa-Doe ‘planted’ the story in the newspaper herself for attention.
On the allegation that he had held meetings with the Ahwois (Ato and Kwesi) in a bid to have her (Benyiwa-Doe) fired as the Central Region Minister, Mr Allotey Jacobs refused to confirm or deny the report. He was however, categorical that the strained relationship between them will in no way affect the chances of the NDC in the next general elections in 2012.