General Secretary for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has alleged that President Akufo-Addo masterminded the Agyapa Royalties deal.

This, according to him is the reason behind the President’s failure to prosecute “his corrupt officers” even though the Special Prosecutor had disclosed evidence of corrupt activities relating to the deal.

“President Akufo-Addo was the chief mastermind and promoter of that shady Agyapa scam that is why he cannot punish any of his appointees found culpable," he said.

The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu had disclosed on Monday, November 2, some anomalies detected in government’s transaction with the Agyapa Minerals Royalties Limited following his Corruption Risk Assessment.

Speaking at the party’s 16th weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Mr Nketia stressed that it is not for no reason that Akufo-Addo is not showing interest in punishing the named officials.

“The fact that President Akufo-Addo himself blares this shady Agyapa deal from the beginning and continues to affirm his confidence in his cousin, the Finance Minister even in the face of the overwhelming evidence of corruption against him speaks to his complicity in the Agyapa scam,” he said.

The Special Prosecutor had argued that there was a reasonable suspicion of bid-rigging and corruption activity including the potential for illicit financial flows and money laundering in the process that led to the selection of the Transaction Advisor(s).

The General Secretary said retaining the named persons up until now in office is unfortunate but predictable.

“It is sad but not surprising, that these government officials who are responsible for the shady Agyapa deal which has occasioned a huge financial loss to the nation, are still at post,” he stated. 

“In any serious country, Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen would have been suspended pending criminal investigations or under criminal prosecution by now,” he added.