Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has assured that all concerns raised by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) about the proposed Agyapa Minerals Royalties transaction will be addressed before presenting to parliament again.

According to him, the reviewed transaction has gone through the Attorney General for scrutiny and expecting the new board of the Minerals Income and Investment Fund Board to act on it.

He believes the Agyapa Royalties Deal is the best vehicle to support the country’s development through the mining sector.

The deal was proposed last year for government to raise some funds through mineral royalties for key infrastructure projects in the country, but couldn’t be successful due to issues raised by stakeholders.

Speaking to Joy Business after inaugurating a nine member board of the Minerals Incomes Investment Fund, Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, insisted that the deal has the potential of transforming the economy, hence the decision to bring it back after addressing the concerns.

“The Attorney General has looked at it. We had a few stakeholder meetings and I think the new board should be energised to review that and go through the parliamentary process. I’m unequivocal that it is the way to go in terms of monetising our minerals and finding a way to leverage mining” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of the Mineral Incomes Investment Fund, Ernest Nana Yaw Koranteng, has the responsibility of ensuring that the transaction goes through.

The board of the Minerals Income and Investment Fund Board is chaired by Professor Douglas Boateng, former chairman of the Public Procurement Authority Board.

The board members include investment banker, Ernest Nana Yaw Koranteng who doubles as the Chief Executive of the Fund; Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Rev. Amishaddai Owusu Amoah; First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Maxwell Opoku Afari; Felicia Nana A Dapaah Gyamfi Ashley; Prof Akosua Apea Osafo; George Mireku Duker;  Kow Abaka Essuman Esq; Professor  Grace Ofori Sarpong.