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Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has requested that Ken Ofori-Atta, the finance minister, be investigated by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
In their petition, Tiger Eye PI claimed that the pair had engaged in a conflict of interest by using their businesses to buy government bonds while performing their official duties as state employees.
In a statement to the public, CHRAJ Commissioner Joseph Whittal said that the Commission had received a formal complaint about a conflict of interest between Ken Ofori-Atta and a former minister of state named Charles Adu Boahen from the Tiger Eye PI team.
“The allegations are that there is conflict of interest in terms of their official duties as public officers and the companies in which they have interest in terms of government bonds and so the case is going through the standard process of assessment in order to make sure that it meets procedural requirement under the Commission’s regulation as well as whether it is really within the mandate of the Commission. Based on that, we will then decide what next steps to take,” Whittal confirmed to media.
You may remember that Charles Adu Boahen was fired for allegedly buying favors in Anas’ most recent exposé, “Galamsey Economy.”
However, Mr. Adu Boahen has asserted that the documentary was an attempt to frame him and that he was not involved in any corrupt activities.
As part of the reasoning for the censure resolution against the finance minister, the minority in parliament has already accused him of having a conflict of interest.
Attorneys for Ken Ofori-Atta pleaded with the Committee to dismiss the charge during the hearing on the grounds that any claim of a conflict of interest may only be probed by CHRAJ.
The accused parties will be compelled to come before the antigraft institution to answer certain questions in regard to the petition filed, if CHRAJ determines it is worthwhile to investigate.
Currently, the Minority is attempting to have Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta removed from office through a censure motion, despite the fact that 98 NPP MPs have expressed their lack of trust in his capacity to carry out his duties as Finance Minister.
The Minority called for Ken Ofori-Atta to be fired and said that the present weak situation of the economy is a result of the Minister’s ineptitude.
The accusation against Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta is that he employed Data Bank Financial Services, a business he co-founded, as consultants for some of Ghana’s foreign loan transactions.
Charles Adu Boahen’s business, Black Star Brokerage, has also been charged with profiting from government bond issuing operations.
Both businesses are accused of serving as bond market experts and financial consultants to the Ministry of Finance.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
