A former aide to the late Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu has cautioned against unnecessarily criticising John Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie over a purported will bequeathing to his relatives portions of the Achimota Forest.
According to Mr Owusu, critics ought to be measured in their commentary and allow the spirit of Sir John to rest.
This follows a huge public uproar over the contents of Sir John’s will which included parcels of lands in the Achimota forest and the Ramsar site in Sakumono, vehicles, huge sums of monies in his bank accounts, gold businesses, etc.
But reacting to these developments, Charles Owusu who was allegedly named in the will as one of the executors, called on Ghanaians to respect the dead and not make comments that give the late politician a bad name.
“I will not talk much, but I don’t think matters would have been handled this way if he was still alive. The public will also not be making these disrespectful comments. Dead men tell no tales. Sir John can’t clarify issues, no wonder people are speaking without basis,” he said on Accra-based Asempa FM.
“He served the country and party while he was alive. But the truth will certainly prevail. So the investigations should be allowed to go through. It’s two years since his passing and it’s really worrying that he is being dragged.”
“I am awaiting the findings to be presented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Ghanaians should be patient for the findings to be made public. How can the dead defend himself? Only time will tell”, he stressed.
When the host enquired whether he was the Charles Owusu named as one of the beneficiaries of the will, he said, it was premature to make such a disclosure in the public domain and added that the findings of the Ministry’s probe will bring matters to rest.
“There are a lot of Charles Owusus in the country. I cannot tell whether I am the one in the will as a beneficiary. I do not want to rush and disclose the contents of the will so let’s all wait for the outcome of the Land Ministry’s investigations. So I don’t want to talk about the will in public.”
