Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akurintinga Ayine has affirmed his commitment to prosecute all former government officials of the previous administration involved in any form of looting against the state.
In a media briefing, the Attorney General made explosive revelations about ongoing investigations under the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s anti-corruption campaign, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).
In a speech that underscored the gravity of corruption-related offences allegedly committed by former government officials and corporate entities, Dr Ayine detailed the progress of high-profile investigations, including the National Service Scheme scandal and the infamous SkyTrain deal.
“In the National Service scandal, eight suspects have been interrogated, and a good number of them have started singing; they are cooperating with our investigation. So we will give you details of their songs at the appropriate time”.
Dr Dominic Akurintinga Ayine
One of the most damning allegations in the NSS scandal is the claim that payments were funnelled into the accounts of top executives by private vendors and staff of the scheme.
Additionally, the Attorney General revealed that a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NSS, alongside others, allegedly paid a sitting Member of Parliament (MP) in 2024 to suppress media reports exposing corruption.
These revelations, according to Dr Ayine, suggest a well-coordinated effort to cover up financial malfeasance.
Dr Ayine promised that more details would emerge in due course, fueling speculation about potential arrests and prosecutions in the near future.
SkyTrain Scandal
Turning his attention to the controversial SkyTrain project, the Attorney-General provided new insights into the controversial deal, which has become a symbol of opaque financial dealings within the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
According to Dr. Ayine, a staggering $2 million was paid at the request of the Chairman of the GIIF Board, allegedly without board approval.
The suspect at the centre of the transaction, Solomon Asamoah, the former CEO of GIIF, according to the Attorney General is currently evading justice, having relocated from Ghana to South Africa in early February before moving on to Senegal.
The government, according to Dr. Ayine, is prepared to prosecute him in absentia if necessary. However, his co-accused, Professor Ameyaw Ekumfi, remains in Ghana and could soon face trial.
The Attorney-General noted that an examination of GIIF board minutes from the relevant period revealed no approval for the payment.
“So we requested all the minutes of the board of directors within the period that this transaction occurred. And our perusal of the minutes shows quite clearly that there was no board approval.
“Also, the interrogation has revealed that the other board members said that they did not have knowledge of this transaction.”
Dr Dominic Akurintinga Ayine
According to the Attorney General, perhaps the most damning revelation is that the so-called beneficiary company traced to Mauritius, has been confirmed as non-existent by a Mauritian lawyer.
This revelation according to the Attorney General suggests that the entire transaction may have been a front for a fraudulent scheme.
Dr. Ayine delved into the financial irregularities surrounding the SkyTrain deal, particularly the breakdown of payments. Out of the $2 million transferred, only $100,000 was accounted for as an equity contribution to the company.
According to him, the remaining $1.9 million was categorized as “share premium,” a financial manoeuvre that raised serious red flags.
Explaining the implications of this, Dr. Ayine argued that paying a share premium to a newly incorporated company with no track record made little financial sense.
He suggested that such a move could have been strategically designed to enable the directors of the company to siphon funds more easily.
The Attorney General, however, stressed that he would only proceed with prosecution if he is convinced that sufficient evidence existed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ongoing Probes and Future Prosecutions
While the National Service Scheme and SkyTrain scandals took centre stage in Dr. Ayine’s address, he hinted at ongoing investigations into other cases, including the Free Wi-Fi procurement scandal.
He maintained that his office would not publicly discuss these cases until they had gathered sufficient evidence to prosecute.
He also commended the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), particularly its Director of Operations, Raymond Archer, for their relentless efforts in gathering evidence.
He assured the public that weekly briefings were being held to ensure steady progress in the investigations.
Dr Ayine’s revelations provided strong backing for President Mahama’s controversial statement that Ghana has become a “crime scene” under the previous NPP administration.
According to the Attorney General, President Mahama is frequently briefed on ongoing investigations and is well aware of the scale of corruption being unearthed.
The speech concluded with a cryptic yet intriguing remark: “What suspect Adu Boahen and his wife have done is like a thriller in Manila. Please brace yourself for a rumble in the jungle in the next few weeks.”
This statement suggests that more high-profile corruption scandals may soon be exposed, with potential legal action against key individuals.
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