In 10 Explosive ‘Sins’ of Ex-Education Minister
Its looks like the New Patriotic Party (NPP), will stop at nothing in it agenda to destroy itself in the contest to elect it next flagbearer for the 2028 general election.
After publishing sins and evils of three of the five contenders namely Dr Mahamudy Bawumia, former Food and Agriculture Ministers and Ken Agyapong, the fourth presidential hopeful, in the person of the immediate past Education Minister, is also in the news.
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has his version of the misdeeds captioned ‘10 sins of Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum’ explosively published in the latest ‘you do me, I do you’ war.
It follows his recent criticism and distancing of himself from Dr Bawumia, the former flagbearer’s, apology to Ghanaians for the actions and inactions of the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government.
Each of the alleged 10 sins tells a story but what appears to be raising eyebrows and never heard among the hopefuls is his alleged sexual escapades.
According to insiders, the unassuming Bosomtwe constituency Member of Parliament (MP) was engaged in amorous relationship with young girls in his office as Minister.
He was reportedly sleeping with these ladies in his office during working hours. His accusers say the act was rampant with lady staff members despite his religious role an elder of the Pentecost Church.
The allegation, according to Solomon Owusu, of the Movement for Change fame, is causing problems for the former minister at home.
While some of the allegations are already in the public domain and being investigated by the current government, others are relatively fresh on the list.
The educationist, is also accused of inflating the enrollment figures for the Free Senior High School (FSHS) from 3.5 million to 5.7 million.
The current Minister Haruna Idrissu who is seized with the correct figures earlier this year, confirmed the claim, forcing his predecessor to concede that indeed he lied.
But according to the NPP, this was not just an oversight but a deliberate action by Dr Adutwum for procurement benefits. He is also accused of paying some GHS57 million to Busy Internet despite no work done.
This contract to the private firm, is also being thoroughly investigated and so far, Dr Adutwum’s former boss, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has publicly revealed that he has been invited by the investigative agencies for questioning.
The New Republic gathers that Dr Adutwum has also been interrogated.
The MP and former minister, is also said to have diverted US$ 2.5 million meant for GALOP projects. This scandal broke a while back but it is not clear if it part of the issues being investigated.
Allegedly, he also masterminded the removal of the former Director General of the Ghana Education Service Prof Opoku Amankwah apparently to “extend his control and micromanage of the GES”.
Additionally, the educationist, on the list of his sins allegedly “appropriated all government contracts under his ministry to himself”.
Another sin of the former minister is that he allegedly attempted to award his girlfriend a contract worth US$250, 000 monthly after the NPP lost the December 2024 general election.
It did not end there, Dr Adutwum is said to have allegedly sidelined and undermined all appointees employed under Dr Opoku Prempeh alias NAPO under his watch at the ministry.
In the past and while Dr Opoku Prempeh was at the Ministry, as the first minister under former President Akufo-Addo, there were rumours that the relationship between the former Energy Minister and Dr Adtuwum was frosty.
Dr Adutwum was often described as the perfect substantive minister and not deputy because of his credentials in education from the United States (US).
Also featuring keenly on the sins of Dr Adutwum is the distribution of imported Moshosho rice to SHSs across the country, a scandal that broke in 2024, in the run up to the last general election.
It was uncovered by the then Minority led by the MP for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who incidentally was a Deputy Education Minister under the first Mahama administration.
Last on the list is his alleged setting up of “a cabal to sell placement and teaching slots”.
Even though the list has been circulating in the media space, it is unclear which camp released it for public consumption even though accusing fingers are being pointed at one direction.
Meanwhile, Dr Adutwum has reacted to his alleged sins. In an interview days ago, he admitted to having sighted the list but he feels it is nothing to pay attention to.
He said it is part of an agenda by critics to smear him but he is focused. He explained that as a leader, not everything one does is going to be pleased by all so he is taken it in his stride.
Although no one in the NPP has come out to own up to the list it is alleged that, it came from the Dr Bawumia camp.
Insiders say, Dr Adutwum’s predicament started immediately he criticized and distanced himself from the recent apology the former vice president issued. Recall that weeks ago, three other competitors were given their own share of the accusations,
In that episodes, there were 10 sins against former MP for the Assin Central constituency Ken Agyapong, then 16 evils of former flagbearer and former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and lastly 10 sins of MP and former minister for Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong. Of course leading members of the
Movement for change, who are mainly breakaway members of the NPP, have described the main elephant family as “party of sinners who are competing to elect their leader”.
By Gifty Boateng