President Nana Akufo-Addo has instructed that the Finance Minister returns to Parliament to reconsider the arrangement in the transaction with the Agyapa Mineral Royalties Limited.
This comes moments after the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP)on Monday, communicated its disclosure of findings of a corruption risk assessment conducted into the transaction.
According to Martin Amidu, the process was concluded as far back as October 15 and had forwarded its findings of same to the Presidency and Finance Ministry on October 16.
Some of the areas prioritised for scrutiny by President Akufo-Addo during the deal’s directed return to Parliament include allocations, relationships and investments involved.
He is expected to make a public statement on the development and the way forward for the Special Purpose Vehicle.
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Corruption Risk Assessment
In August this year, the OSP, as part of its mandate, requested from the Finance Ministry documents regarding the special purpose vehicle which help the country secure about $1 billion to finance infrastructural projects.
This followed criticisms from Civil Society Organisations about red flags in the transaction.
The Minority in Parliament has described the deal as one shrouded in secrecy adding that its nature had the propensity to breed corruption, a position that government has vehemently rejected.
The agreement, which is said to be in line with the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act, 2018 (Act 978), was passed without support from the Minority in Parliament.
Meanwhile, an Initial Public Offer, which was put on hold, remains suspended ahead of the disclosure of the findings of the OSP’s corruption risk analysis meant to identify potential weaknesses which may present opportunities for corruption to occur in the arrangement.