Wife of Alhaji Abass Awolu, Hajia Fauzia has disclosed that the originator of the video in which president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is seen allegedly being given a bribe by her was the one who suggested that she make the donation towards the 2016 campaign of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to Nana Addo himself.
According to Hajia Fauzia, Salis Yakuku Atsuluho who was privy to her assistance towards the NPP campaign ahead of the 2016 Elections told her to make the campaign donation to the party’s presidential candidate himself rather than his subordinates.
Mr. Atsuluho, Alhaji Abass’ wife added, then facilitated her meeting with the president at his Nima residence where she made the donation to the candidate of then opposition NPP in October 2016.
In an interview refuting the bribery allegation against the president, Hajia Fauzia expressed shock at the misinterpretation of her campaign donation by the same person who had facilitated the event to suggest that she was offering the president a bribe.
While disclosing that she is a member of the NPP, Hajia Fauzia stated that she had no idea that Mr. Atsuluho was harboring an evil intent to malign the president.
“It is very surprising because in 2016 during the election time, this gentleman (Mr. Atsuluho), I knew him for sometime and then we started talking. He witnessed some of the support I gave to the party. So he suggested that instead of doing it on the low, he will take me to the presidential candidate himself,” she stated.
She added “he took me to Ama Busia who was supposed to have led us to Nana but she wasn’t feeling well so she introduced us to former Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Agyei Bawuah. I had about 1,000 T-shirts which had pictures of the then presidential candidate and his vice then I added 40,000 cedis. Then we went to the old man (Nana Addo) to support for the 2016 Elections. I didn’t know that this guy had any malicious intent because I just went there as a party supporter to render my support.”
In the video documentary purportedly produced by The Salis Newspaper, Alhaji Abass Awolu is alleged to have sent a delegation led by Dr. Agyei Bawuah to the Nima residence of the president to influence him with a bribe of $40,000 not to dismiss him as Director of Urban Roads.
Among the delegation is a man and a woman introduced as brother and wife of Alhaji Abass respectively.
In the video documentary, a voice purported to be that of brother of Alhaji Abass is heard pleading with the president to disregard allegations leveled against his brother stressing that such allegations are plots by his detractors to dent his image and eventually ensure his dismissal from office as the Director of Urban Roads.
Afterwards, the president is seen receiving a hefty brown envelope which the narration claimed is $40,000. The voice purported to be brother of Alhaji Abass is heard explaining that the money is from Alhaji Abass who has been advised to take that step or risk being fired.
However, another video which involves same personalities and scenes but without the narration as contained in the documentary video has surfaced. The video, which the NPP claimed is the original video, suggest that the alleged bribe was a donation towards the 2016 campaign of president Akufo-Addo.
