PDS scandal: Finance Minister, ECG Chair, others must step aside during investigation - Victor Smith

Ghana’s former Ambassador to the UK, Victor Smith, has demanded that the main stakeholders involved in the PDS saga must refrain from any form of interference during investigation processes to prevent any further scandals.

According to Victor Smith in a statement, Ken Ofori-Atta, ECG Chair, GIPC CEO, MiDA Chief must allow due course to take place to enable an honest, thorough and credible investigation to be accepted by Ghanaians.

PDS took over ECG on March 1 after its major shareholder Meralco Consortium from the Philippines won the Millennium Challenge Power Compact Two from the U.S.A.

However a little over four months after the takeover, the government suspended the contract after the “detection of fundamental and material breaches of PDS’ obligation in the provision of Payment Securities (Demand Guarantees) for the transaction which has been discovered upon further due diligence.”

“Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who clearly is in the eye of the storm, must do the honourable and decent thing and step aside during this period of investigation into this PDS saga, at the very least.” Victor Smith indicated.

He added, “But not only him, a number of his close associates, especially those from Data Bank and Enterprise Group, who are all involved in this scandalous embarrassment to government and the nation, must also be interdicted pronto.”

Below is his full statement

Finance Minister, ECG Chair, GIPC CEO, MiDA Chief must step aside, during Investigation of PDS scandal - Victor Smith

For an honest, thorough and credible investigation to be accepted by the good people of Ghana and the whole world, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who clearly is in the eye of the storm, must do the honourable and decent thing and step aside during this period of investigation into this PDS saga, at the very least.

But not only him, a number of his close associates, especially those from Data Bank and Enterprise Group, who are all involved in this scandalous embarrassment to government and the nation, must also be interdicted pronto.

My honest and non-partisan appeal to the President is that he must ensure that there is no attempt to cover up in this investigation. I believe that any more poor handling of investigations into scandals under his administration could precipitate an unrest of gargantuan proportion that can stifle this nation's efforts to progress.

I rest my case.