The Ghana Medical Association General Secretary, Dr Justice Yankson, has pleaded with the Minority Caucus in Parliament to take a second look at the Agyapa deal and give government another opportunity.

Speaking to Winston Amoah on Joy FM's Super Morning Show Wednesday, he said the NDC MPs should "look at the details of the document and then address the nitty-gritty".

"A second look in the sense that per my understanding Parliament has already passed the deal even though it was one-sided because the minority at the time boycotted."

He added that if the Agyapa document doesn't go with their best interest upon a second look, Parliament as a whole should deal with the technical and financial aspects of it.

"Ultimately, we only want what’s best for the people of Ghana. We’ve wallowed in poverty and squalor for far too long and these are some of the arrangements we can use to fast track our development.

"We should look at it from that angle and have a by-partisan approach that will help us ensure that the detail ultimately satisfies the people of Ghana," he said.

Although there are some good intentions on the part of government, Dr Yankson believes that there are some aspects of the deal that does not sit well with some sections of the Ghanaian population.

"This is being done for the entire country and the generations to come. So at this point, I think it’s a good opportunity government itself has said that look we are bringing the whole document back to parliament for 'a review' or 'a second look'."

He further stated that President Akufo-Addo paid attention to the issues which were previously raised about the Agyapa deal and have addressed them, hence the comeback of the deal.

Background

On August 14, 2020, Parliament approved the Agyapa Minerals Royalties Investment Agreement and four related documents to allow for the monetisation of Ghana’s future gold royalties.

Under the agreement, Agyapa Mineral Royalties Limited has been incorporated in Jersey near UK to receive and manage royalties from 16 gold mining leases over the next 15 years or so.

In exchange, the firm will list on the London and Ghana Stock Exchanges (GSE) later this year and raise at least $500 million for government to invest in infrastructure, health and education.

The listing will allow private people to buy a 49 per cent stake in the firm.

However, some 22 civil society organisations called for a suspension of the deal, insisting it was not in the interest of Ghana.