A demand by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to sack finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Attta, over the controversial Agyapa Minerals Royalties deal has been rejected by at least 15 civil society organizations (CSOs).
The CSOs who rejected the NDC’s demand, are those who urged the suspension of the Agyapa Royalties deal.
NDC made demand at a press conference addressed by its General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, following the findings of the Special Prosecutor in his corruption risk assessment on the transaction.
“The NDC, hereby, demands that President Akufo-Addo retrieves the state’s the billions of cedis his government has illegally paid under the shady ‘Agyapa’ deal to Databank, which is owned by his cousin and Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta; African Legal Associates, which is owned by another cousin of his, Gabby Otchere Darko; and their foreign compradors, within the next 7 days, failing which the NDC and other like-minded progressive forces, shall embark on series of protest and legal actions to ensure that every pesewa paid to these companies are refunded back to the State for nation-building,” Mr Asiedu-Nketiah said.
But leadership of the CSOs do not agree with the NDC, thereby shooting down its demand.
Dr Steve Manteaw, a spokesperson for the Alliance of Civil Society groups working in extractives, said there was rather the need for the Special Prosecutor who in his risk assessment established that, there was reasonable suspicion of bid-rigging and corruption activity in the selection process of the deal, to prosecute culpable persons in the deal.
Dr Manteaw addressing a press briefing in Accra, noted that the Minister should be allowed to serve until he is proven guilty by a law court.
By Melvin Tarlue
