Martin Amidu
The Office of the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, has reportedly released a list of individuals that ‘are being investigated’ or ‘are to be investigated’ over allegations of corruption and abuse of public office.
The purported list contains about 26 high-profile individuals belonging to the current and previous administrations.
It’s unclear if the Office of the Special Prosecutor will respond to the release of ‘fake’ or ‘real’ list, which was posted on social media yesterday.
If the Office denies the list, then it means some mischievous persons are targeting Ghanaians and want to ridicule members of the current Akufo-Addo administration.
Former President John Dramani Mahama is said to be on the list for allegedly using public office for private benefit.
His case involves the diversion of $13 million E.O. Group Money, with the list indicating that the case is yet to be assigned for investigation.
Authenticity of List
The Chairperson for the Board of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Board, Linda Ofori Kwafo, questioned the authenticity of the list as at press time yesterday.
Speaking on the sidelines of a conference organized by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) in Accra yesterday, the chairperson said she was not sure the list in the media was accurate.
“I don’t speak for the OSP (Office of the Special Prosecutor), I don’t speak for that office, but I just want us to all know that as much as we all want corruption dealt with and people investigated properly and sanctioned when the need arises, we should also make sure the office works according to its procedures,” she told 3News.
“So it’s quite unfortunate that a list is out, but I’m not sure that is the list that even I got to know from the media,” she said.
She added that “the Special Prosecutor is under no obligation to let the public in on the details of cases he is pursuing.”
Mrs. Ofori-Kwarfo had hinted in April that the Special Prosecutor would publish the cases before it.
Double Salary
NDC Members of Parliament (MPs) are on the list for abuse of public office for private benefit in the double salary scandal involving former appointees of former President Mahama.
They include Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, Fifi Kwetey, Comfort Doyoe Ghansah and Emmanuel Armah-Buah.
According to the Office, the double salary case is yet to be assigned for investigation.
The case of $3 million allegedly used to purchase two mansions, which appears to have been linked to Felix Ofosu Kwakye, a former deputy Minister of Communications under the previous Mahama administration, is also on the list.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings made that allegation and the Special Prosecutor said it was waiting on him to confirm the suspect’s name to start investigation.
MP for Bawku Central Mahama Ayariga featured prominently on the list, and is said to be under investigation for procurement breach in an ambulance deal.
Mr. Ayariga is also on the list for tax invasion, abuse of public office, and according to the Office of the Special Prosecutor investigation into the case is ongoing.
Former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, is also on the list, and it has to do with suspected misappropriation of public funds and ML (properties in Ghana & South Africa),with her statement so far taken by the Office.
Another case suspected of misappropriating public funds (diversion of project funds to finance NDC party research) has been linked to former deputy Health minister Rojo Mettle Nunoo, with the Office reporting that it had obtained statement from broadcast journalist, Kwetey Nartey, on the matter.
Current Administration
National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, is on the list on suspicion of misappropriation of public funds and money laundering following his purchase of 275 buses during the party’s primaries in July 2018.
His case, according to the list, is yet to be assigned for investigation.
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and eight others are also on the list for alleged abuse of public office in some purported (ASH Plantpool) arrangement, and according to the Office, caution statements have been obtained from all respondents, except Mahama Ayariga and one Kwabena Pinkrah.
MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, is also on the list for allegedly using public office for private benefit (sole sourced contract of GH¢100.2 million), and the case has reportedly not been assigned for investigation.
The Metropolitan Coordinating Director, Sam Ayeh-Datey, is also captured on the list in a suspected breach of procurement process through the Accra Metropolitan Millennium School Project, and investigation is ongoing in his case.
District Chief Executive (DCE) for Garu-Tempane, Albert Akuka Alazuuga, is also on the list as number nine suspect on suspicion of misappropriating public funds under the School Feeding Programme.
Another case yet to be assigned for investigation is the abuse of public office for private benefit (sale of 5m litters of contaminated fuel by Alfred Obeng Boateng and George Mensah Okley.)
Again, the list captures a case of abuse of office for private benefit, specifically the alleged encroachment of Sakumono Ramsar by Kwadwo Owusu, who is said not to have reported to the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
According to the list, Frances Asiam, a respondent, was on bail to produce some documents for an alleged breach of procurement (Ghana Cylinder MFG.CO. GCMC) Limited.
There is also a case involving Rose Owusu and Bennet Aboagye, who have been accused of procurement malpractices at Metro Mass Transit, with Ms. Owusu said to be on bail, and the Office waiting for the petitioner to produce his witness.
Also on the list is a case of unlawful entry, trespassing and illegal felling of trees at Kadema, Builsa North, Bawku, which has not been assigned for investigation.
Another abuse of power and office for private benefit case involves Nana Yaw Boadi and Oppong Sasu (BB Alang Company, Fanteakwa, Eastern Region), and the case is yet to be assigned for investigation.
By Melvin Tarlue