Civil society group The People’s Alliance for Governance and Accountability (PAGA) has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and Parliament to investigate allegations that some Members of Parliament received payments in connection with the AKSA Emergency Power Agreement.
The demand follows evidence presented in a United States criminal prosecution which, according to PAGA, points to payments made to Ghanaian public officials.
“Confirm If You Are Investigating”
In its petition, PAGA is asking the OSP to publicly confirm whether it is probing the Ghanaian aspect of the bribery allegations and to disclose the current status of any investigation.
The group has also filed a Right to Information (RTI) request, calling on the OSP to release relevant reports, documents and information shared with US authorities.
PAGA further urged other state agencies including the Attorney-General’s Department, EOCO and the Financial Intelligence Centre to obtain and preserve the full evidential record from the US proceedings. This, it said, should include financial records, emails, exhibits, recordings and testimony.
“No One Should Be Spared”
“Every Ghanaian beneficiary, facilitator or public official identified in the evidence must be investigated without fear or favour,” the group stated.
PAGA specifically named Dr. Kwabena Donkor, who was Minister of Power at the time of the agreement, and called on him to account for his alleged role and for any payments, gifts, travel or other benefits reportedly received.
Where the evidence warrants it, the group said, appropriate administrative measures including interdiction should be considered pending the outcome of investigations.
Call For International Cooperation
“International cooperation must produce results,” PAGA added, urging the Attorney-General to ensure that evidence received from the United States is properly secured and promptly placed before the appropriate Ghanaian investigative authorities.
The group says Parliament also has a duty to exercise oversight and ensure that the matter is not swept under the carpet.
The AKSA Emergency Power Agreement was signed in 2015 to address Ghana’s power crisis. The deal has previously come under public scrutiny over its cost and procurement process.
