GHC10,000 Chinese gift to Attorney General generates furore

The GHC10,000 by the Chinese Mission in Ghana to the Attorney General’s office has generated lots of backlash from the public. The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has also described the development as worrying.

According to the GII, the AG’s office should not have taken the money in the midst of the prosecution of some Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining in Ghana.

“The point is that we are currently at the moment dealing with matters that concern Chinese engaging in illegal mining,” Linda Ofori Kwafo, GII’s executive director said.

“So if the very institution that is mandated under our laws to deal with such matters are accepting gifts at this time then it raises concern.”

Meanwhile, many Ghanaians on social media say the donation may induce the Attorney General’s office in trying Chinese galamseyers, like Aisha Huang.

The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Baohong opined that the donation is to support the AG’s Office, towards organising a stakeholders’ consultative workshop, on the Office of the Special Prosecutor Bill, 2017.

But the general feeling of Ghanaians is that government and its agencies should be careful in how it takes gifts.