New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central constituency is prepared to sacrifice his salary to pay the legal fees of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to challenge the euro bond in court.
According to Ebenezer Nartey, the NDC led by its Minority in Parliament must be able to prove their conflict of interest claim if they want to be taken serious.
The Minority in Parliament is calling for a probe into government’s local bond issued some days ago, citing a conflict of interest situation involving the Attorney-General (A-G).
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs at a news conference in Accra Tuesday said the bond issued by the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta also lacked transparency.
Former Deputy Finance Minister, Casiel Ato Forson, one Trevor G. Trefgarne, a director at Franklyn Templeton, the institution that bought 95% of the $2.25 billion bond is also a Director at Enterprise Group Limited, a company the Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta is co-founder of.
He claimed Trevor may have influenced the manner in which the bond was issued – an allegation government has vehemently denied.
Ato Forson said if the Parliamentary inquiry into the issue failed, the Minority would be left with no option than to head to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) which is the “conflict of interest jurisdiction.”
But on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Friday, Ebenezer Nartey suggested the Minority challenge the issue in court.
This, he indicated will ensure those who would be found culpable will be punished.
Just like the adage ‘empty barrels make the most noise’ the Ablekuma Central MP said the NDC just want attention.
He could not fathom why the erstwhile NDC government on three conservative times did business with Franklyn Templeton and is now playing the ostrich.
“I’m surprised at the attitude of the NDC when the money is being used to pay the debt they left behind” he added.
Listen to Ebenezer Nartey