A number of expatriate businesses named in connection with the cash-for-seat saga have denied being coerced to pay monies to attend the awards event.

Representatives of at least eight companies including AirtelTigo, IPMC and Interplus appeared in camera before the parliamentary committee probing the saga on Tuesday.

The probe follows concerns by the Minority in Parliament that companies present at the Ghana Expatriate Business Awards (GEBA) organized by a private company, Millennium Excellence Foundation (MEF), were forced to pay monies to sit close to President Akufo-Addo.

MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, said the documents he has sighted about the deal point to extortion by the Ministry of Trade and MEF, the awards organizers.

Representatives from MEF when they meet the Committee

So far, there has been a public hearing for Minority MPs, Okudzeto Ablakwa and Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, whose complaints led to the Speaker instituting the Committee. 

The Trade Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, also took his turn to answer questions on the issue. 

However, due to their business interest, expatriate businesses named in the saga pleaded for an in-camera hearing, which the Committee granted. 

During the in-camera hearing, Joy FM is reliably informed that the companies were asked specific questions regarding whether they were coerced into making the reported payment of between $15,000 to $100,000.

The Committee also sought to find out how much each of the companies had to pay to participate in the Awards ceremony, which will be compared to the details that were given by the Trades Ministry.

The companies said they paid monies in support of GEBA and not that they were paying to gain access to sit close to the President.

Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, the Spokesperson for the Committee said the in-camera conversations will be captured in the fine details of the report.

Apart from the companies, there is expected to be a final meeting of the Committee in-camera with some additional witnesses on the issue.

After that, they will wrap up with their report and submit it to the Speaker before the end of January.

Although the Committee has delayed in finishing its work and submitting its report, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said they have agreed with the Minority to give a one-week extension.