The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for an independent investigation into the alleged bribery scandal surrounding the AKSA power project, insisting that Ghanaian authorities must establish the identities of persons who may have received illicit payments and determine whether public officials benefited from the transaction. Speaking at the NPP press conference in Accra on Thursday, August 13, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, said the controversy required a thorough investigation to establish the facts and ensure that persons wrongly associated with the allegations also had an opportunity to clear their names.
He said the proposed inquiry should not be limited to identifying and punishing alleged offenders but should examine the circumstances surrounding the transaction and the conduct of institutions and individuals involved. “The public inquiry is not just to find culprits and also punish them. It’s also to give people who are perceived to be involved but are innocent the opportunity to clear their name,” he said. According to Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, the investigation should also help Ghana understand why allegations of corruption involving public officials are repeatedly exposed through investigations conducted outside the country. He questioned the effectiveness of Ghana’s domestic mechanisms for detecting and addressing corruption, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the AKSA case raised concerns about institutional oversight.
A major issue raised by the Manhyia South MP was the need to identify persons in Ghana who allegedly benefited from payments connected to the power project. He said investigators should trace the money, establish its beneficiaries and determine the purpose for which the alleged payments were made. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah also drew attention to references in the foreign proceedings to an individual described as a “Presidential Relative”, saying the identity and role of that person should be established. He said the investigation should determine the person’s relationship with President John Dramani Mahama, the entity or company with which the individual was associated and whether the person played any role in the AKSA transaction. The MP stressed that being mentioned in connection with an investigation should not automatically amount to guilt, making a credible inquiry necessary to distinguish allegations from established facts.
Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah said the matter also raised questions about Ghana’s anti-corruption institutions and their capacity to detect alleged wrongdoing involving major public transactions. He questioned why foreign authorities had been able to pursue the matter to the point of prosecution while questions about possible beneficiaries in Ghana remained unresolved. For him, the issue goes beyond individual culpability and requires an examination of the systems through which major government transactions are negotiated, reviewed and approved. He said the investigation should therefore examine the roles played by relevant officials and institutions and determine whether existing safeguards were followed.
The NPP MP expressed concern about the handling of politically sensitive corruption investigations and called for a process capable of commanding public confidence. He said the investigation should be insulated from political interference and should follow the evidence regardless of the identity or political affiliation of anyone who may be implicated. The party also wants the Office of the Special Prosecutor to play a significant role in investigating the Ghanaian dimension of the allegations. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah argued that Ghana’s specialized anti-corruption institutions should establish whether any offences were committed and, where appropriate, ensure that those responsible are brought to account.
The allegations centre on the AKSA power project, which became part of Ghana’s response to the country’s electricity supply challenges. The NPP said the circumstances surrounding the project and the allegations of payments to individuals connected to the transaction should be subjected to careful scrutiny. It said investigators should establish how the project was negotiated, who participated in the process, what decisions were taken and whether any improper financial considerations influenced those decisions. The party maintained that individuals who had legitimate roles in the transaction should not be prejudged, but those found to have abused public office or participated in wrongdoing should face the consequences.
The lawmaker said the controversy should be treated as a national accountability issue rather than simply another partisan dispute. He said an independent inquiry could help establish the truth, protect individuals who had been wrongly implicated and expose weaknesses in Ghana’s institutional systems. He argued that the country needed stronger mechanisms capable of detecting suspicious transactions and addressing corruption allegations before they became matters for foreign jurisdictions. The NPP therefore wants the relevant authorities to pursue the matter comprehensively, identify all persons who may have benefited from the alleged scheme and establish whether any public decisions were influenced by improper payments. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah said the ultimate objective should be to establish the facts and strengthen Ghana’s institutions so that similar allegations do not recur in future public transactions.
By: Joyce Owusu
