Former Lands and Natural Resources Minister Inusah Fuseini on January 24, 2026 made explosive allegations on live television linking the removal of former Attorney-General Gloria Akuffo to perceived pressure from the wife of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, prompting an on-air dispute over fairness, attribution and due process.
Speaking on Newsfile, a current affairs programme on Joynews, Hon. Fuseini claimed he personally chanced on a conversation involving Ofori-Atta’s wife and Gloria Akuffo at the Air Force gym in Accra. According to Hon. Fuseini, the disagreement centred on dissatisfaction with Gloria Akuffo’s handling of prosecutions involving former officials of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“I was in the gym when this happened,” Hon. Fuseini said, adding that the facility was a public place with multiple witnesses. He alleged that Gloria Akuffo was later removed from office partly because of a perception that she failed to prosecute former NDC appointees “in accordance with the desires of the wife of Ofori-Atta.”
The remarks immediately drew objections from fellow panellists, who urged Hon. Fuseini to withdraw the claims on the grounds that the individuals named were not present to respond. Several panellists warned that mentioning private individuals on air without a right of reply could expose the programme to legal and ethical challenges.
Host Samson Lardy repeatedly questioned Hon Fuseini about the gravity and fairness of the allegations, noting that Fuseini was no longer a state official and was attributing serious consequences — including Gloria Akuffo’s exit from office — to a private exchange.
“Don’t you think it’s unfair, in their absence, to make such claims?” Lardy asked, offering Hon Fuseini an opportunity to withdraw the statement.
Hon Fuseini refused, insisting he stood by his account and was prepared to defend it publicly. “If they think that I’m not speaking the truth, they can take me on,” he said. “I’m putting my reputation on the line. I don’t speak lightly on matters of this nature.”
New Patriotic Party (NPP) representative Hassan Tampuli challenged the premise of the allegation, stating that Akuffo was not dismissed but served her four-year term as Attorney-General and simply did not receive a subsequent appointment under the next administration.
“She was not fired. She served her tenure and left,” Tampuli said, disputing Fuseini’s characterisation.
Lardy closed the exchange by clarifying that Akuffo had completed her term, while acknowledging she did not leave office “happily.” He said the programme producers would seek responses from the individuals named and update viewers accordingly.
Neither Ken Ofori-Atta nor his wife, nor Gloria Akuffo, has publicly responded to Fuseini’s claims.
