The former Managing Director at the State Housing Company Limited (SHCL), Mr Samuel Sarpong has laughed off claims by some news portals that he had been detained by US officials at the John F Kennedy Airport for carrying out criminal acts.
Speaking to the Ghanaian Observer Newspaper, Mr Sarpong said nothing of the sort as fabricated by the online portals, Mynewsgh.com and Ghana Web has happened.
He noted the last journey he made to the United States of America (USA) was almost eight months back where he went to seek medical attention.
Mincing no words, Mr Sarpong said never in his life has he lived a wayward or corrupt life to force him to dabble in devilish attitudes as the portals insinuated in their concocted stories recently.
‘’My son you have known me for long and with all confidence I can say that never in my life have I used crude or wayward methods to enrich myself as the feeble minded persons at these news portals have suggested’’, the former Kumasi Mayor posited.
CLAIMS:
Mr Sarpong said never has he been a fun of wayward living, adding it was because of this attitude of his that he carefully chose the institutions he worked with including the Serious Fraud Office, which is now EOCO.
He mentioned that his dislike for wayward lifestyles was evident when he chased those who were involved in illegal mining from the Central as well as the Ashanti Regions when he was made Regional Minister in both areas during President Mahama’s government.
Mr Sarpong, a former Mayor at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), therefore wondered how the two online portals could be naïve to attribute criminal tendencies to him despite his impeccable record in public life.
The former SHCL Manager said he was currently residing in Kumasi where his house is almost open to all who intend visiting.
‘’I am surprised newsmen who should be aware of my record in public service before my recent retirement would rather choose to associate me with things I will never get involved in’’, Mr Sarpong noted firmly.
LEGAL AVENUE:
Revealing his next move to addressing the series of bad stories against his person, a calm Mr Sarpong said his legal team is carrying out the necessary processes to get the ignorant news editors to either substantiate their claims or retract same.
The time, the former KMA boss noted has come for media practitioners to play their game in line with the ethics governing the profession.
Never, he urged should a newspaper or any other media outlet put up stories or publications about people when they know what they are saying is false or untrue.
Mr Sarpong also hinted this reporter about the person who is behind these series of bad reportage on his person and noted the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) have been informed to carry out their checks to ascertain the motives of the treacherous person.
‘’My son I know who is behind these things and I have adequately informed my lawyers to commence action against the ‘rented’ media persons as we also allow the BNI to firm up their checks on the person circulating these wicked lies about me’’, the former SHCL manager hinted.
