The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has announced that it has finished looking into claims that a powerful and anonymous wealthy businessman tried to buy off several members of Parliament’s majority caucus.
In its first half-year report, the OSP stated that “The Special Prosecutor will issue directives and further action on the matter in due course.”
“The Office has concluded investigation into allegations of an attempt by an unnamed and wealthy businessman to bribe some members of the majority caucus of Parliament. The Office expresses its gratitude to the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament and his staff for their cooperation and assistance during the investigation.”
OSP
It can be recalled that the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said that a wealthy, unnamed businessman had tried to buy off the New Patriotic Party MPs who were calling for the Finance Minister’s dismissal in order to change their minds.
Moreover, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu asserted, “What I can say of it [the allegations] as of now is that, we don’t know the motive. Not knowing what the motive is, sometimes these things come up, so we will have to establish that.”
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained his hesitancy to pass judgment by using the case of a minister nominee who was allegedly accused of proposing bribes to the Appointments Committee to expedite his approval. However, he said that the allegations were proven to be false at the conclusion of the case.
In its half-year report for 2023, the OSP claimed that it has finished looking into three significant cases, while four others were still being prosecuted. In the report, the Office of the Special Prosecutor also disclosed that it has opened an investigation into 150 fresh cases of corruption.
“These would be publicized if the Special Prosecutor determines that they are within the mandate of the Office and that they should be moved past the preliminary investigation stage.
“This is a policy intended to protect the privacy of individuals and the business operations of institutions and companies, and to avoid unnecessary stigmatization.”
OSP
Investigation Concluded On Charles Adu Boahen And Charles Bissue
In the half-year report, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) stated that it had also finished looking into a referral made by the President of the Republic regarding Charles Adu Boahen, a former Minister of State in the Finance Ministry, and allegations of possible corruption and crimes related to corruption.
“The corruption allegations are contained in an investigative documentary titled, Galamsey Economy – published by Tiger Eye P.I. and the investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.”
OSP
According to the OSP, the Special Prosecutor will provide instructions and take additional action on the subject as soon as possible.
Moreover in the report, the OSP also noted that it has finished looking into claims made against Charles Bissue that he had used his position as secretary of the formerly-existing Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) for personal gain.
It further clarified that this was a result of the Galamsey Fraud Part I investigative documentary that Tiger Eye P.I. and the investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas had produced.
“This investigation is a subset of a wider investigation on illegal mining and the activities and operations of the IMCIM,” it stated.
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