Joseph Afotey Agbo, Minister of State at the Presidency, has denied warning of adverse consequences if President John Evans Atta Mills did not reassign former Tourism Minister, Mrs Zita Okaikoi.
In a statement to the press, the Minister wrote: “My attention has been drawn to a false story on JoyFM’s website attributed to me, Joseph Afotey Agbo, Minister of State at the Presidency, claiming that I have warned of adverse consequences if the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, does not reassign former Minister for Tourism, Zita Okaikoi.
“In response to a question during an interview on CitiFM on Wednesday, January 5, 2011, I indicated that after a number of years as Minister, the former Tourism Minister has garnered enough experience that if she is left out of government, it will cost us. In stating my reason, I emphasized that it will cost us because she has learnt on the job and we will be losing the experience she now has.
“Contrary to the JoyFM website story, I never cautioned the President, nor the NDC Party against leaving Mrs. Okaikoi out of office.
“I spoke on CitiFM, and wonder why JoyFM chose to twist and report falsely the details of my interview that I ‘noted that President Mills will be doing his government and the NDC party a great disservice if he throws out Zita Okaikoi’”.
“I am by this statement demanding a withdrawal and apology from JoyFM’s online division.”