The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Emmanuel Nii Ashie-Moore, has rejected reports that the Attorney-General’s Department has recommended his prosecution for alleged stealing of a Singaporean businessman’s personal belongings.
In a statement issued on October 23, Mr Ashie-Moore described the report as inaccurate, misleading and calculated to damage his reputation, particularly ahead of the NDC’s forthcoming internal elections.
“I categorically reject the report published by JoyNews alleging that the Attorney-General’s Department has recommended my prosecution. I maintain that the report is inaccurate, misleading and calculated to tarnish my hard-earned reputation as the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), particularly ahead of the forthcoming internal party elections,” he said.
His response follows a report on an advice from the Attorney-General’s Department indicating that investigators should charge him with stealing under Section 124 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The report cited an investigation docket that included witness statements, CCTV footage from Fiesta Residences and a cybercrime analysis report.
The recommendation, as reported, is not a conviction, and any criminal liability would have to be determined through the legal process.
“I call on JoyNews to uphold the highest standards of responsible journalism by thoroughly verifying its claims, correcting any inaccuracies and ensuring that its platform is not used to unfairly damage reputations,” he said.
The statement did not set out a detailed rebuttal of the specific evidence cited in the report or provide documents contradicting the reported advice from the Attorney-General’s Department.
The case concerns allegations that Mr Ashie-Moore removed the luggage and personal belongings of Singaporean businessman Toh You Kang while the businessman was in police custody. The wider dispute between the two men also involves allegations connected to a purported US$800,000 payment for assistance in securing contracts with the Electricity Company of Ghana. Mr Ashie-Moore has previously denied receiving the money and rejected the allegations against him.