Bond saga: CHRAJ report enough for impeachment – Petitioner

There is enough reason to impeach Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta based on the report by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), after investigations into the $2.25billion bond, Mr Yaw Brogya Genfi, the petitioner in the case, has said.

“…contrary to media reportage that the Finance Minister has been exonerated of wrongdoing, the evidence so far indicts him of several illegalities which constitutes enough grounds for his removal from office,” Mr Genfi noted in a statement released on Friday, December 29.

Mr Genfi said he has been given a copy of the report by CHRAJ and “currently studying the 140-page report with my lawyers and will speak to the general public in due course”.

“I commend CHRAJ for a meticulous work done. Again, my gratitude goes to the media and all the people who stood by me through this 8-month struggle,” Mr Genfi added.

The Commission started the probe into the matter after Mr Genfi, petitioned it in April 2017, to investigate Ken Ofori-Atta’s position in the issuance of the bond.

CHRAJ in its report released recently, said: “On the basis of the evidence available to the Commission, it has come to the conclusion and therefore holds that, the allegations by the complainant that the respondent has contravened Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution by putting himself in a conflict of interest situation in relation to the issuance of the 5-year, 7-year, 10-year and 15-year bonds, have not been substantiated”.

However Mr Genfi insists there are many illegalities committed by the Finance Minister spelt out by CHRAJ which will inform his next line of action.

Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has also dismissed reports in a section of the Ghanaian media that CHRAJ has exonerated Mr Ofori-Atta from any wrong doing in the issuance of the US$ 2.5 billion bond.

The Minority in a statement reacting to the development said: “The Minority Caucus in Parliament has become aware of findings contained in the decision of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on a complaint filed against the Finance Minister over the infamous US$ 2.25 billion bond in March this year.

“Contrary to some publications on a number of online portals to the effect that the Finance Minister has been cleared of wrongdoing, CHRAJ in its decision agrees largely with our stated position from the very beginning that the bond issuance did not follow due process.

“CHRAJ in its summary of key findings noted several breaches of statutory regulations governing the issuance of bonds and cited the Minister for conduct bordering on criminality. It is the considered position of the Minority that the adverse findings contained in the decision of the CHRAJ vindicate our position that the US$ 2.25 Billion bond issuance was fraught with irregularities and did not comply with Ghanaian law.

“We will engage the media next week to provide details of our position on the outcome of the investigations and consequential matters.”