Deputy Minority Leader, James Klutse Avedzi
The Minority in Parliament is accusing Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta of attempting to “conceal evidence” in the matter of the issuance of the $2.25 billion bond and the case of conflict of interest between him and his “business partner” Franklin Templeton.
According to Deputy Minority Leader, James Klutse Avedzi, the attempt by Mr. Ken Ofori Atta to “buy time” in responding to queries of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) clearly shows that the Minister wants to cover up “his shoddy deals.”
He wondered why Mr. Ken Ofori Atta used just a day to issue the bond but cannot used the same period to provide answers to questions asked by a Ghanaian citizen, Mr Yaw Brogya Genfi, who is seeking clarity on the issuance of the bond.
Speaking on the Gold Power Drive with Samuel Eshun Monday, Mr. James Klutse Avedzi said “I think there is something the Finance Minister wouldn’t want to bring out.”
“There is something that definitely he wants to find a very nice way of covering up so that the truth cannot come up and we think what the Finance Minister is asking for is not proper,” he added.
The Minority’s accusation is on the back of request made by Mr Ken Ofori-Atta that he needs extra 15 working days to respond to the queries (CHRAJ) in the matter of whether or not he contravened provisions of the 1992 Constitution in the public offer of the $2.25 billion bond.
Mr Ken Ofori-Atta through the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr Patrick Nomo, in a letter dated May 11, 2017 requested for extension of time.
The extension, according to the letter, was necessary to properly respond to the issues raised by CHRAJ in their letter to the Minister on May 5, 2017.
The Ministry said in order to properly respond to the issues with supporting documentation, an extension of time by additional 15 business days was required.
The letter added the extra time would enable Mr Ken Ofori-Atta to properly coordinate with all relevant parties, including external transaction advisors, for the information to be provided.
CHRAJ’s letter
CHRAJ on May 5, 2017 requested the Minister to comment on whether or not he had contravened provisions of the 1992 Constitution in the public offer of the $2.25 billion bond in 10 days.
The letter of CHRAJ titled, “Allegation of contravention or non-compliance with Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution by Mr Ken Ofori-Atta – A public officer: Request for comments,” was delivered through the secretariat of the Minister.
The request for the Minister’s comments was based on a petition by a citizen, Mr Yaw Brogya Genfi.
In his complaint to CHRAJ titled, “Petition to investigate conflict of interest in the recent US$2.25 billion bond issued by the government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance,” he alleged that the minister had placed himself in a conflict of interest position, and thus, in breach of constitutional provisions.
