Audio By Carbonatix
Finance Minister-designate, Ken Ofori-Atta has revealed that Databank, a financial institution he co-founded has supported various governments including the NDC in financial transactions.
The comment comes as a response to a question posed by First Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Appointments Committee in Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu during his vetting, Friday.
Mr Ofori-Atta was asked if Databank had ever been involved in any government transaction since he assumed office as Finance Minister.
Responding to the question, he stated that various administrations including some NDC governments have engaged Databank in transactions.
He noted that in the 1990s for instance, soon after Databank was launched, the bank helped government in securing $25 million to help privatise some 8 companies.
"In the 1990s when government had talked about privatising a number of maybe 6 or 8 companies Unilever, PZ enterprise shares, it had been an impossible task. And when we launched our company, I think in 1993/94 we were able to put together $25 million to execute that transaction, which was 80% of the stock market at that time".
"And when we started the Eurobond issuance in 2007, we were part of that transaction in Kufour's era. But even before that, also, there was a crisis of liquidity in Ashanti in which former President Rawlings and Former President Mills invited Databank and Calbank to bring our expertise to bear and to resolve that," he said.
"So we have constantly participated, independent of which government there was to date".
Asked by MP for Asaawase, Muntaka Mubarak whether all transactions went through competitive bidding, he responded in the affirmative.
"I think we (Databank) have subjected ourselves as far as I've known to whatever process that has gone on including these past three years.
As far I know, since 2007, all of the transactions have gone through the Ministry's competitive bidding [but] I suspect that the issue of the advisory of the Ashanti liquidity crisis was where Professor Mills selected Databank and Calbank, giving their expertise to support the government, is what I don't think went through competitive bidding," he added.
Latest Stories
-
Police arrest 6 suspected notorious armed robbers in Kumasi
3 minutes -
Opinion: GHS1m is welcome, but Ghana Premier League’s biggest problem remains unsolved
4 minutes -
Stylen Boy’s ‘Adole’ featuring Kurl Songx hits No. 1 on Ghana iTunes
7 minutes -
CBG’s assets rise to GH¢17.86bn as deposits, revenue and equity grow in 2025 – SIGA Report
10 minutes -
KNUST SHS considers slashing admissions over infrastructure deficit
15 minutes -
GEXIM Bank’s capital adequacy ratio rises to 75.3% in 2025 – SIGA Report
18 minutes -
CPC’s revenue plunges 47% as net loss widens to GH¢144m — SIGA
19 minutes -
Ghana Water turns GH¢3.06bn loss into GH¢635.23m profit in 2025 – SIGA Report
20 minutes -
Challenging Heights rescues 25 trafficked children from Lake Volta in weekend operation
35 minutes -
‘Nobody has any video of me embarrassing myself’ – Afenyo-Markin on ‘extortion’ allegation
41 minutes -
Government listening to ordinary Ghanaians with diesel relief – Duncan Amoah
41 minutes -
Photos: Manya Krobo Ngmayem Festival turns 133
52 minutes -
Government must go beyond short-term fuel relief – COPEC
53 minutes -
‘Revive traditional values to fight plastic pollution’ – EPA CEO
57 minutes -
Mahama’s administration is Ghana’s worst ever – Amin Adam
1 hour