Bus re-branding: A-G denies OccupyGhana access to investigative report

Social and Political Non-partisan Pressure Group, OccupyGhana, is claiming the Attorney-General has refused to give them a copy of the REPORT on her (A-G) outfit's investigations into the MMT Smarttys Bus Rebranding Transaction that was handed over to the Chief of Staff a couple of months ago.

The group reveals that though the A-G and Ministry of Transport delivered 22 documents covering the Smartty's transaction to them some two weeks ago, "the Honourable Attorney-General refuses to give to us, the report that she delivered to the Chief of Staff after her investigations".

According to OccupyGhana, the A-G's action stems from the fact that, that particular report is "considered confidential and privileged".

In a statement issued Sunday and copied Peacefmonline.com, OccupyGhana said it has passed on the "documents to our legal and audit teams for their review and advice", and further expressed its preparedness to pursue any "illegal, wrong or untoward" act they come across in their findings.

"We have delivered these documents to our legal and audit teams for their review and advice. We will keep Ghanaians appraised and updated with the findings of our legal and audit teams, and as we have promised, should we find that any laws were broken or anything was done that was illegal, wrong or untoward, OccupyGhana® will pursue the matter to its logical and legal conclusions," the statement read.

Read the full statement below

8th MAY, 2016

OCCUPYGHANA® PRESS STATEMENT

OCCUPYGHANA® RECEIVES M.M.T. BUS BRANDING DOCUMENTS FROM ATTORNEY-GENERAL

OccupyGhana® is pleased to announce that it has received from the Honourable Attorney-General and the Ministry of Transport, 22 documents covering the Smarttys Transaction ("Transaction.")

It would be recalled that by a letter dated 1st February, 2016, OccupyGhana® requested from the Honourable Attorney-General, documents covering the Transaction. However, by a letter dated 3rd February, 2016, the Honourable Attorney-General declined to provide us with the documents on the ground that there was a pending legal action with respect to the same matter.

Not satisfied with this response, OccupyGhana® issued a Press Statement dated 7th February, 2016, in which it announced its intention to seek legal redress against the Honourable Attorney-General. On 18th February, 2016, OccupyGhana® commenced legal action against the Honourable Attorney-General, in the exercise of our right to information under article 21 of the Constitution.

In the meantime, the other action to which the Honourable Attorney-General referred, as the basis of her refusal to give the documents to us, was heard and determined by the High Court against the Attorney-General. While we waited for our action to be heard, we received word from the Honourable Attorney-General that she would make the documents available to us. True to her word, by an Affidavit dated 26th April 2016, filed on 28th April 2016 and sworn to by one Lawrence Kumi, Director of Research at the Ministry of Transport, the Honourable Attorney-General has delivered to us, documents relating to the Transaction, except one. The Honourable Attorney-General refuses to give to us, the report that she delivered to the Chief of Staff after her investigations on the ground that she considered that as confidential and privileged.

We have delivered these documents to our legal and audit teams for their review and advice. We will keep Ghanaians appraised and updated with the findings of our legal and audit teams, and as we have promised, should we find that any laws were broken or anything was done that was illegal, wrong or untoward, OccupyGhana® will pursue the matter to its logical and legal conclusions.

Yours in the service of occupying hearts and minds for God and Country

OccupyGhana®