President of Citizen Eye Ghana, Alex Tetteh, has urged Ghanaians to focus on the professional qualifications and conduct of Commissioner of Police Lydia Yaako Donkor, rather than her personal relationships. Tetteh's comments come amid controversy surrounding Donkor's relationship with businessman Ibrahim Mahama. He emphasized that Donkor's career progression in the Ghana Police Service should be evaluated based on her merits, not her private life.
Tetteh rejected the suggestion that Ibrahim Mahama was responsible for Donkor becoming CID boss, stating that she had already built a career in the police service and had progressed under different administrations. He also pointed out that Mahama is an ordinary citizen who does not control the security agencies or the justice system. According to Tetteh, the independence of Ghana's institutions should not be undermined by assumptions about personal relationships.
The controversy surrounding Donkor and Mahama raises a wider concern about the way women in senior positions are sometimes judged by their personal relationships. Tetteh argued that it is hypocritical to judge a woman because of who she has children with, who she has dated, or who she is married to. He emphasized that a woman's private life should not become a career issue, and that people should be careful not to apply a different standard to women than they would to men.
Tetteh also claimed that some NPP members have since reached out to Ibrahim Mahama after the party went into opposition to apologize for what they now recognize as unfair treatment and abuse of power. He pointed to the seizure of Engineers and Planners equipment by the then Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, as an example of the pressure Mahama's businesses faced. According to Tetteh, the treatment was intended to intimidate Mahama and slow the growth of his businesses.
Tetteh criticized lawyer Maurice Ampaw for his efforts to damage Mahama's reputation, cautioning him to stop trying to tarnish Mahama's hard-earned reputation. He emphasized that the legal profession carries a responsibility to promote reasoned public debate and that personal attacks do not make allegations true. Tetteh urged Ampaw to present evidence of wrongdoing if there is a legal issue involving Mahama.
On how this can discourage people with proximity to power from investing in Ghana, Tetteh questioned whether Ghana should discourage people related to every president from working hard and earning a living. He emphasized that Ghana should encourage entrepreneurs who are willing to invest their capital in the country, create jobs, and support people through philanthropic work. According to Tetteh, Ibrahim Mahama has chosen to invest in Ghana, and such people should be encouraged, not attacked out of envy.
Tetteh also spoke about Mahama's relationship with Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, stating that Wontumi apologized to Mahama in an effort to avoid going to jail. He emphasized that Mahama forgave Wontumi and even tried to assist him with the case by recommending good lawyers, but the matter was too serious to simply be quashed. According to Tetteh, Mahama is an ordinary citizen who cannot simply stop a case because of his influence.
Key points
- Alex Tetteh, President of Citizen Eye Ghana, has called for a more objective discussion of the relationship between Commissioner of Police Lydia Yaako Donkor and businessman Ibrahim Mahama.
- Tetteh emphasized that a woman's private life should not become a career issue, and that people should be careful not to apply a different standard to women than they would to men.
- Tetteh criticized lawyer Maurice Ampaw for his efforts to damage Mahama's reputation, cautioning him to stop trying to tarnish Mahama's hard-earned reputation.
