The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a media encounter expressed its displeasure on the revelations made by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in its corruption risk assessment report about the illegal payment made to certain entities.
Speaking at the “Moment of Truth series conference in Accra, the National Communication Officer of the NDC, Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi, said, the OSP also found that, similar illegal payments were made to Africa Legal Associates – a law firm belonging to Gabby Otchere Darko, another cousin of President Akufo-Addo.
“All these payments were found by the OSP to be unlawful, hence null and void. Yet, to date, these illegal payments, which did not give the country any value or benefit, have not been retrieved by the state” Sammy Gyamfi exclaimed.
The Agyapa Royalties Deal which was passed in parliament on the Mineral Income Fund Act, 2018 (MIIF Act) was done purposely to secure all royalties made from minerals to sustain the Ghanaian economy in times of crisis but has since been suspended upon further consultation.
The law was amended to enable it to incorporate subsidiaries and to use it as a special purpose vehicle (SUV) to do business across the world.
The main subsidiary of the MIIF and holding company, Agyapa Royalties Investment Ltd, which was listed on the London stock exchange, and its subsidiary, ARG Royalties Ltd, will be quoted on the Ghana Stock Exchange, with the government maintaining shareholders in both companies which were heavily criticized by the opposition that only some individuals will have asses to the country’s royalties.
The company is responsible for managing 75.6 percent of the country’s royalty inflow from the twelve (12 ) gold mining companies that currently operate in Ghana.
In the comments made by Sammy Gyamfi, he said, he has the full assurance of H.E John Dramani Mahama and the NDC government to prosecute everyone found guilty of the $12 million Agyapa scam.
He also called on electorates not to allow President Akufo-Addo and his corrupt cabal of family and friends to lead the country on 7th December 2024 whose mission is to cover their corrupt government and misappropriation of state funds.
Story by: Zakiya Yandor Uthman / Ahotoronline.com
