The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has revealed that it has concluded investigations into corruption-related allegations against the Northern Development Authority.
This was stated in a half-year report issued by the Office of Special Prosecutor. According to the office, the release of the report is in execution of section 3 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The 13-page report offered an insight into the corruption cases investigated and prosecuted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the highlights of activities undertaken by the Office between 1st August 2022 and 31st December 2022.
The Office indicated that it has concluded investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of a contract awarded by the Northern Development Authority to A&QS Consortium Limited for consultancy services under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), especially in respect of the quantum of the contract sum.
The report noted that, “The Special Prosecutor or an authorised officer will issue directives and further actions on the matter in due course.”
In July 2022, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) warned that it will prosecute all persons found guilty of alleged offences regarding the award of a contract by the Northern Development Authority (NDA).
In a statement issued, the OSP said it started investigations into the alleged ¢10 million signature forgery case on June 30.
Mr. Kissi Agyebeng’s office was petitioned by a private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, to investigate accusations of irregularities at the NDA.
This followed a former NDA CEO’s petition to the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, over a fraud issue involving his successor.
Dr Sulemana Anamzoya, in the petition, accused his successor, Sumaila Abdul Rahman, of falsifying figures and forging his signature to cash in a ¢10,400,000 contract.
Mr. Martin Kpebu’s petition called on the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng to launch a full-blown investigation into the development.
Charles Bissue’s Investigation Outcome
According to the report, the Office has also concluded investigation into allegations of the use of public office for profit against Charles Bissue, during his tenure as Secretary to the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM). This arose from an investigative documentary titled Galamsey Fraud Part I published by Tiger Eye P.I. and the investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
It would be recalled that in October last year, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, started investigating some public officials over their alleged involvement in illegal mining.
The investigation targeted some officials of the Lands Ministry, the Forestry Commission, and the dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
In a press release issued on Monday, October 10, 2022, the Office of the Special Prosecutor revealed there is an ongoing enquiry into allegations of use of public office for profit against Charles Bissue during his tenure as secretary to the IMCIM.
However, in December 2022, Mr. Charles Bissue secured an injunction at an Accra High Court to stop the Special Prosecutor from investigating him.
According to the OSP, some of the cases being investigated include the alleged bribery by Airbus SE, a European multinational aerospace corporation, in respect of the sale and purchase of military aircraft for the Republic of Ghana.
The other named high-profile cases include an investigation into the banking and financial sector crisis, and suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of the recruitment exercise of Course 51 of Cadet Officers Training at the Ghana Police Academy as well as cases involving former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, whose case was referred for investigation by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo following Tiger Eye PI’s documentary titled Galamsey Economy.
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