Paul Adom-Otchere, a renowned broadcaster, has pushed back against claims about his legal credentials.
The veteran journalist insists that he holds an LLB from the University of Ghana, comparing his status to respected legal academics who are not practising lawyers.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV, Paul Adom-Otchere argued, “There are people who were in class with me. Yes, I studied law. I have a law degree from the University of Ghana, an LLB. I was in the second batch of postgraduate students in 2001. So, that is about it”.
“So, one day they said I’m not a lawyer, then I said to them, ‘If I’m not a lawyer, Kwamena Ahwoi too is not a lawyer.’ Nobody has come back after that. And I say it again, if I’m not a lawyer, then Kwamena Ahwoi, they call him a law professor, he too is not a lawyer,” he argued.
Paul Adom-Otchere added, “If Kwamena Ahwoi wants to practise, can he?”
“The law that they say he is a professor, and I agree, Kwamena Ahwoi is one of the best legal brains, is not a lawyer. If Paul Adom Ochere is not a lawyer, Kwamena Ahwoi, one of the best legal brains, is also not a lawyer. There are others I can mention, but they are not in public life”, he added.
In recent times, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, has clashed with Ghanaian broadcaster, Paul Adom-Otchere, following a viral video of the minister in a jovial mood, teasing a portrait of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Asokwa Interchange.
The Ashanti Regional Minister in the viral video was touring ongoing painting works in Kumasi when he paused at the portrait of the former president, bowing slightly before the artwork.
However, Paul Adom-Otchere, speaking on his Good Evening Ghana show, heavily criticised the minister by questioning his doctoral credentials.
Paul Adom-Otchere highlighted that the Ashanti Regional Minister does not present himself as a medical doctor.
According to him, Dr Frank Amoakohene’s level of reasoning is below standard.
Paul Adom-Otchere, speaking on his Good Evening Ghana show, stated, “I saw that he posted something on social media, pretending to tease us. We didn’t engage because we are not about teasing people; we are about thinking and making things happen.
“I don’t know what he did before entering politics, but I know his doctorate is not in medicine. In tech, you can complete a four-year programme and be called a doctor, but it is not medicine… I get the sense that he is playing and not serious. I am not sure he belongs to a group of young people we should have confidence in,” he said.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, in a Facebook post, later hit back at Paul Adom-Otchere.
Dr Amoakohene rejected Paul Adom-Otchere’s claims, insisting that he is a certified medical doctor and not a school dropout, like he was.
According to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Paul Adom-Otchere could not complete his law education.
In his Facebook post, he wrote, “Tell ‘Christmas Tree’ that I am a medical doctor. I am not a dropout like him, who could not complete his law education. When you had the opportunity, you chose to sell Christmas trees.
“I chose to be innovative, so if you want to defame me, at least do your due diligence. Below is my academic background at 35. I dare ‘Christmas Tree’ to share his academic background at 51 and explain why he was sacked from law school,” he stated.
The Ashanti Regional Minister further rejected claims by Adom-Otchere that the New Patriotic Party (NPP), under the administration of John Agyekum Kufuor, completed the Asokwa Interchange.
“‘Christmas Tree’, facts: The Asokwa Interchange was started by President Kufuor in June 2008, six months to the elections, and completed by President John Evans Atta Mills in October 2011. Keep these facts, because one day the Suame Interchange will be wholly claimed by people like ‘Christmas Tree’,” he stated.
Watch the video below:
