Amidu sends Agyapa corruption risk assessment report to Akufo-Addo

The Office of the Special Prosecutor completed the corruption risk assessment in the Agyapa royalty agreement and sent its recommendations to the Office of the President.

This was made known in a press release dated November 2, 2020, signed and issued by the Special Prosecutor, Mr. Martin Amidu.

Amidu explained in the press release that the report was completed on October 15, 2020 and sent to the Office of the President on October 16, 2020, as well as to the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.

He indicated that he made it public because two weeks is sufficient “courtesy” and considered it important to inform the public about the conclusion of his constitutional mandate.

“The corruption risk analysis and anti-corruption assessment was completed and signed by the Special Prosecutor on October 15, 2020. The Special Prosecutor in a letter with the reference number OSP / SCR / 12/20/20 dated October 16, October 2020 transmitted the conclusions and observations of the anti-corruption evaluation to HE the President and H.E. Minister of Finance as a matter of courtesy before informing the public. “

“Two weeks is more than too long for this Office to continue withholding the announcement of the completion of its sixty-four (64) page report to the public. It is important that this Office be free to fulfill its anti-corruption mandate and keep the public informed. Therefore, I have decided to bring to the public’s attention the facts of the conclusion of the anti-corruption evaluation of the Agyapa Royalty Transactions by this Office and to avoid continuous speculation on this matter, “added the Special Prosecutor in press release.

Background

On August 14, 2020, Parliament approved the Agyapa Minerals Royalty Investment Agreement and four related documents to enable the monetization of future Ghana gold royalties.

Under the agreement, Agyapa Mineral Royalties Limited has been incorporated in Jersey near the UK to receive and administer royalties from 16 gold mining leases over the next 15 years or so.

In return, the firm will be listed on the London and Ghana stock exchanges later this year and will raise at least $ 500 million for the government to invest in infrastructure, healthcare and education.

The listing will allow individuals to buy a 49 percent stake in the company.

However, some 22 civil society organizations called for the suspension of the agreement, insisting that it did not benefit Ghana.

Investigation Special Prosecutor’s Office

Therefore, the Special Prosecutor, Mr. Martin ABK Amidu, initiated investigations into the Agyapa Mineral Royalty transaction.

In a September 10, 2020 letter addressed to the Secretary of Parliament, the Special Prosecutor said that the investigation was in line with his office’s mandate to exercise corruption prevention functions and powers.

“I am writing to you in accordance with Sections 2 (1) c, 29 and 73 of Law 959 and Regulation 31 (1) and (2) of LI 2374 ordering that the Office exercise the functions and powers of prevention of corruption , to ask you to provide this office with information and all related documents and / or in relation to Parliament’s approval of the Agyapa Royalty Transaction to help this office carry out its purpose of preventing corruption ”, says the letter from the Special Prosecutor to Parliament.

The Special Prosecutor urged Parliament to ensure “timely compliance with this legal notice.”

Concentration

The letter adds: “This Office will focus on any potential of such a transaction to promote and facilitate the alleged commission of corruption and corruption-related crimes and advise the government accordingly.”

He said that in view of the public interest generated in the matter in the tense electoral environment this year, “it will be highly appreciated if you make the requested information available to the Office and present the required documents to this office on or before Tuesday September 17. 2020, ”the letter read.

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