Abuga Pele, the Member of Parliament for Chiana-Paga constituency who was indicted in the GYEEDA scandal for alleged malfeasance and misappropriation of funds says he is completely innocent of the charges proffered against him.
Abuga Pele who was the former National Coordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) now GYEEDA said he is optimistic that he will soon be cleared.
On assertions that he may have been used as a scapegoat while the real culprits walk free, Abuga Pele said “I wouldn’t say I have been used as a scapegoat, maybe they have not done proper investigations of the issues. When the investigation is completed and when all the evidence is given in court and they have understood the situation, they will know that I shouldn’t be prosecuted.”
In an exclusive interview with Citi News, Abuga Pele said “I know that eventually when the government and the Judicial authorities after everything has been done, they will realize that I am innocent and will be freed and there will be no problem.”
Abuga Pele and the Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill International Ghana, Philip Assibit are currently facing trial for their alleged role in the GYEEDA scandal.
Whereas Abuga Pele has been charged with abetment of crime, intentionally misapplying public property and willfully causing financial loss to the state, Philip Assibit is facing charges of defrauding by false pretence and dishonestly causing loss to public property.
But Mr. Abuga Pele argued that “since I stepped into office as Member of Parliament I have always fought corruption, even at NYEP and it is surprising that I am rather a victim of corruption allegations because I was rather fighting corruption at NYEP.”
Abuga Pele revealed that under his leadership at NYEP, he investigated his deputies after being suspicious of them and subsequently recommended their dismissal saying “who will have the courage to do that but I did that.”
Abuga Pele however lamented that after dismissing some of his district officers“when I left NYEP some of the people I called for their interdiction were reinstated and that was what sparked off the scandal of GYEEDA.”
The embattled former NYEP coordinator insisted that he is not corrupt “so I’m confident, I don’t have any problem because I have never been corrupt. I was working with internal revenue and was transferred three times within the same region because I wouldn’t allow corruption.”
I will retain Chiana-Paga seat for NDC
The National Democratic Congress has not yet conducted parliamentary primaries in the Chiana-Paga constituency due to some unresolved issues.
Meanwhile Abugu Pele said he is hopeful of retaining his candidature and will eventually retain the seat for the NDC in the 2016 election.
“Since 1996 up to date I have continuously won the Chiana-Paga constituency seat with increasing votes margin every election year defecting the myth that long serving MP’s record dwindling votes during elections”.
Mr. Pele added that, the developmental records of the NDC coupled with the instability in the NPP gives the NDC a competitive advantage over the NPP to winning the 2016 general election.
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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana