The flagbearer of the Great Consolidated Popular Party has petitioned EOCO to investigate a cash gift from former Nigerian head of state, Sani Abacha, to former President Jerry Rawlings.

Mr  Henry Lartey believes as a champion of probity, transparency and accountability, the former Ghanaian President owes it to himself to ensure that the suspicion about the cash gift is removed.

“The full context and/or reason(s) in which the funds were issued: In particular, were these funds issued in support of killing the prominent Nigerian environmental journalist Ken Sara-Wiwa?,” Mr Lartey wants EOCO to probe.

Having kept a tight-lip on the controversial gift for 18 years, former President Rawlings finally admitted to a Nigerian newspaper that he received $2 million from the former Nigerian military ruler renowned for amassing huge personal wealth at the expense of state.

Sani Abacha

The matter came to the fore recently after Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Kwaku Baako Jnr, insisted that former president Rawlings received a $5 million and not $2million as he would want the world to know.

Mr Lartey’s petition to EOCO, published in full below, is also asking for a full investigation into “the actual amount of funds issued (as there are discrepancies regarding the amount): Did he receive $2 million, $5 million, or $100 million?”

Mr Lartey suspects that the Abacha cash finanaced some investments of the Rawlingses.

Read the full petition below:

Economic and Organised Crime Office

Head Office

Accra, Ghana

Public Petition Of Inquiry/Complaint

Petitioner: Great Consolidated Popular Party (and the Ghanaian Public at Large)

Respondant(s): Mr. Jerry Rawlings, and Nana Konadu Ageyaman Rawlings

Dear Commissioner,

The Great Consolidated Popular Party is requesting a formal petition of inquiry into key dealings of former President Jerry Rawlings. The thematic areas of inquiry/complaint are the following:

1. The historic public record notes that in 1998 Former President Rawlings denied having received financial support from the then President of Nigeria, Sani Abacha. Today, he has publicly declared that he did in fact receive $2 million from the Nigerian President. This petition of inquiry seeks to ascertain:

2. The full context and/or reason(s) in which the funds were issued: In particular, were these funds issued in support of killing the prominent Nigerian environmental journalist Ken Sara-Wiwa?

3. The actual amount of funds issued (as there are discrepancies regarding the amount): Did he receive $2 million, $5 million, or $100 million?

4. What happened to the remaining £30 million loan from the initial £31.5 million that was issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland to International Generics (for which Mrs. Rawlings was the primary benefactor through a ‘frontman’ named Leon Tamman) under the British Export Guarantee Facility for the construction of La Palm Hotel and Coco Palm Hotel? It has been reported by the former Deputy British High Commissioner in Ghana, Greg Murray, in his book entitled ‘The Catholic Orangemen of Togo and Other Conflicts I have Known’ that only £1.5 million of the funds actually went towards the development of these enterprises, while the remaining £30 million was privately looted by Mrs. Rawlings via Leon Tamman. Is this true?

5. How did the Former First Lady Mrs. Rawlings acquire the Nsawam Cannery in light of her financial capacities at time?

6. Is it true that the Rawlings hold substantive shares within the Ghana Rubber Estate Ltd.?

7. Is it true that the Rawlings were using transporting gold to Switzerland on a regular basis?

8.The Black Star Shipping Line was sold during the Rawlings administration: What was the reason for selling the Black Star Shipping Line and its assets?

9. In 1979 the AFRC opened Account 48 for the deposit of seized funds which were deemed corrupt. What happened to the funds of Account 48?

We trust that Former President Rawlings will answer these questions honestly since he is the Champion of probity, transparency and accountability.

The full support of EoCo is herewith called upon in this petition.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Henry Herbert Lartey

Presidential Candidate

GCPP