The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been instructed by President Akufo-Addo to return to Parliament for reconsideration on transanctional arrangements pertaining to the Agyapa Mineral Royalties deal.
The president’s directive follows the Special Prosecutor’s disclosure of his outfit’s findings of a corruption risk assessment conducted into the transaction on Monday, November 2, 2020.
According to the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, the process was concluded as far back as October 15 and had the findings forwarded to the Presidency and Finance Ministry on October 16.
“Two weeks is more than too long for this office to continue withholding the announcement of the completion of its 64-page report to the public. It is important that this office has the freedom to discharge its anti-corruption mandate and keep the public informed.”
“I have, therefore, decided to bring the facts of the conclusion of the anti-corruption assessment of the Agyapa Royalties Transactions by this office to the attention of the public and to avoid the continued speculations on this matter,” said Mr Amidu in the press release informing the public on the completion of his corruption risk assessment.
He, however, failed to disclose what his findings were.
Areas prioritised for scrutiny by President Akufo-Addo as the Finance Minister sends the deal back to Parliament include investments, allocations and relationships involved in the transaction.
In August this year, the OSP, as part of its mandate, requested from the Finance Ministry documents regarding the deal which is to help the country secure about $1 billion to finance infrastructural projects.
This followed criticisms from Civil Society Organisations about red flags in the transaction.
The agreement which is said to be in line with the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) Act, 2018 (Act 978), was passed without support from the Minority in Parliament.
Meanwhile, an Initial Public Offer (IPO) which was put on hold, remains suspended ahead of the disclosure of the findings of the OSP’s corruption risk analysis meant to identify potential weaknesses which may present opportunities for corruption to occur in the deal transaction.
