The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken on the 15 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who have sternly kicked against the Agyapa Minerals Royalty Limited deal.

At a press briefing on Monday, the party’s Communications Director, Yaw Buaben Asamoa challenged these CSOs to ask for clarifications on the deal rather than insinuating that government has ill intentions.

He also charged them to look at the bigger picture, where Ghana as a whole will benefit immensely from the deal in the coming years.

“Ghana for over 100 years has been exporting gold and we cannot identify any tangible thing we have used those moneies for. So what we are asking CSOs to do is to interrogate these things dispassionately. If you want to know what the money we will make will be used for, ask. If you want to know how we will sustain value, ask.

“Ask the right questions but don’t impugn motives that appear to negate the transparency of the whole process of this deal. The deal was not rushed,” he stressed.

On Tuesday, some 15 CSOs demanded a suspension of the Agyapa Minerals Royalties agreement until all necessary documents have been disclosed.

They said they were concerned about what they describe as a lack of openness and transparency that has characterised the transaction.

However, the Adentan MP reiterated that government has not withheld any information in relation to the Agyapa Minerals Royalty agreement.

Mr Buaben also noted that government’s decision to list the country’s royalties is to help rake in more revenue for developmental projects across Ghana.

“We have the headquarters Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Ghana, so if we can’t trade beyond Ghana how are we going to benefit from the it.

We must go out there and leverage on what we have,” he added.

The Agyapa Royalties deal

Parliament on August 14, approved the controversial Agyapa Mineral Royalty Limited agreement with the government of Ghana despite a walkout by the Minority.

Two years ago, the house passed the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act 2018 which establishes the Fund to manage the equity interests of Ghana in mining companies, and receive royalties on behalf of government.

The purpose of the fund is to manage and invest these royalties and revenue from equities for higher returns for the benefit of the country.

The law allows the fund to establish Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to use for the appropriate investments.

Last month, government introduced an amendment to the act to ensure that the SPVs have unfettered independence.