Former Head of Monitoring at the Forestry Commission and renowned good governance advocate, Reverend Charles Opoku, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to disclose the identities of individuals who recently gifted him a vehicle, cautioning that the lack of transparency could dent the credibility of his administration.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem on Tuesday, Rev. Opoku commended the president for being transparent about receiving the gift but stressed that full disclosure is necessary to avoid any future allegations of impropriety.
“Yes, the president has made the gift public, but we should know the givers and the reasons behind the gift so the matter can be put to rest,” Rev. Opoku said, adding, “Otherwise, it risks becoming a political scandal that may be used to disgrace him later.”
He questioned the timing and motivation behind the gesture.
“What has the president done in five months that someone would gift him a car? Was any such gift offered to him when he was in opposition?” he asked.
Rev. Opoku drew parallels with past controversies, referencing the infamous Ford Expedition gifted to former President Mahama by a Burkinabe contractor, Djibril Kanazoe, which sparked widespread criticism and suspicion of conflict of interest.
“We all saw how that story played out, even though the vehicle was handed over to the Embassy in Burkina Faso. It still damaged the president’s reputation.”
He warned that similar accusations could emerge if the matter is not clarified now.
“What if the person who gave the car later wins a government contract? Even if they are genuinely deserving, people will say they were rewarded because of the gift. That could mar the president’s integrity.”
According to Rev. Opoku, the country has entrusted President Mahama with enormous responsibility, and protecting the presidency from any form of suspicion or manipulation is paramount.
“The whole country is in his hands. Let’s not allow his presidency to be dented by something as avoidable as an undisclosed gift,” he counselled.
He urged President Mahama to take proactive steps to maintain public trust by naming the donors, stating the purpose, and letting the public know the context, insisting that transparency now will prevent accusations and embarrassment later.
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