The ‘Gov’t WhatsApp Group’ that’s made up of influential journalists, security agencies
A statement by Sammy Darko, Director of Research, Communications, and Strategy at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, on Joy FM’s Newsfile has revealed the existence of a government WhatsApp group whose members include representatives of State institutions that are supposed to operate independently.
According to Sammy Darko, the WhatsApp group also includes representatives of Civil Society Organizations and some influential journalists.
Explaining why the group was created, Sammy Darko suggested that “government creates it” because “we are charting a new path on our corruption policy and ethics”.
This revelation has sparked reactions and raised concerns about the neutrality of members of the group in the administration of the State and the possibility of biased treatment of cases.
The details emerged during discussions about the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which has come under heavy criticism following the detention of private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu.
After Martin Kpebu questioned the independence of the OSP, the host of Newsfile, Samson Lardy Anyenini, also raised what he described as “selective trust” in the office.
“I had asked Martin Kpebu the same question: why does he seem to believe anything anybody tells him about the office but he’s unwilling to take what the office tells him? He’s giving you the reason?,” Samson Lardy asked Sammy Darko.
It was while responding that Sammy Darko revealed the existence of a government-linked WhatsApp group which includes renowned journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni.
“The first time I had an encounter with Manasseh Azure over this…There is a government WhatsApp group that we are on and he brought this issue up. He was answered. In fact, as he said, he’s had the opportunity to see, first hand, some of the work that we have done,” Sammy Darko said.
But Samson Lardy, who is also on the platform, tried to correct him on calling it a “government WhatsApp group”, saying “let’s clarify first. It’s not a government WhatsApp group”.
He added, “People may get the wrong impression. It is a WhatsApp group of independent minds, CSO leaders and people like you because of your offices, the key accountability institutions who are also there, OSP, CHRAJ, Auditor-General. Even the Supreme Court has a representation because we have been given a job to do which is not influenced by the State.”
Samson Lardy, however, did not explain the nature of the work assigned by the Supreme Court or identify the person who gave them the task through a WhatsApp group.
Despite his clarification, Sammy Darko maintained that the group was created by government.
“The point I’m making is that the government creates it because we are charting a new path on our corruption policy and ethics,” Sammy Darko said…CONTINUE MORE READING>>>