Gift saga: I would have rejected the offer - Edward Mahama

Dr Edward Mahama, Presidential candidate for the People National Convention

 Presidential candidate for the People National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama says he would have rejected the offer of a gift if he were President John Dramani Mahama.

His comments come against the backdrop of Joy News' Manasseh Azure’s revelation of a Burkinabe contractor who sent the President a gift of a Ford Expedition in 2012.

According to Djibril Kanazoe the president called him to say thank you after receiving the vehicle valued at $100,000.

The contractor was later awarded the Dodo Pepeso-Nkwanta road contract, worth €25.9 million in 2012, the year in which he gave the gift. Before then, he had been given a $650,000 contract for the construction of a wall in Ghana's mission in Burkina Faso.

Communications Minister, Dr Omane Boamah, confirmed that the President received the gift, but explained the luxury vehicle was added to the Presidential pool of cars.

He said the gift did not influence the decision to award Mr Kanazoe the contracts he was awarded.

But in a reaction, Dr Mahama told Nhyira Addo on the Super Morning Show on Friday that he does not think the President was right in taking the gift. The PNC flagbearer said when people occupy the position of a president, they get all sorts of gifts but they have to determine what it is that the person who gave the gift wants.

He said the decision lies with the taker of the gift to either take it or reject although he thinks the President should have rejected it.

Dr Mahama said the fact that Mr Kanazoe continues to do business with the government shows the president has not held himself high on anti corruption.