Agyapa scandal: 15 CSOs demand prosecution of all officials involved

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Working on Extractives, Anti-Corruption and Good Governance Sectors in a News conference today demanded prosecution of all officials who breached our laws in the Agyapa Royalties deal scandal.

Dr Steve Manteaw today Wednesday 11th November said, “We call for the entire set of Agyapa transaction to be rolled back and transaction agreement abrogated. Parliament cannot repair the defects”. The CSOs believe the deal is scandalous beyond rectification.

This Agyapa gold Royalties deal is what the Special Prosecutor Risk Assessment revealed that the transaction was fright with infractions such as conflict of interest, relationship, and allocations among others in his report to the president on 16 October.

Martin Amidu indicated that the engagement of Databank Financial Services as a local rider company was a manipulation by the Finance Ministry which lowered the risk of corruption.

The main opposition National Democratic Congress who first raised red flags about this deal are also calling for heads to roll, they want the persons cited to have bent the rules for their parochial interests in this deal or arrangement refund all monies and be made to go through the prosecutorial process.

Speaking at the news conference in Accra today Wednesday, Dr Steve Manteaw who spoke on behalf of the CSOs demanded that officials are punished, “In this regard, we challenge the OSP to take the next logical step to investigate and prosecute any evidence of corrupt acts in accordance with his prosecutorial mandate.”

Dr Manteaw added that the response from president Nana Akuffo Addo’s cousin the Finance Minister Ken Offori Attah in their view is at vast variance with the facts as they have come to know through interactions with the Ministry of Finance on the deal.

Meanwhile, Ken Ofori-Atta had in his response to the findings of the Special Prosecutor to President Akufo-Addo stated boldly that his ministry carried out due diligence with regards to the processes that led to only the majority in parliament approving of the deal.

The minority walked out of Parliament in the final debate of approving the Agyapa deal because they released the deal was scandalous and lack transparency. However, the OSP has in his corruption Risk assessment vindicated the minority.

Filed By : Agaatorne Douglas Asaah