Aksa bribery scandal: Ghana’s probe must be pursued with speed – Dafeamekpor

The Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has called for a swift and thorough investigation into allegations of bribery linked to the Aksa power plant transaction, insisting that Ghana’s probe must not be allowed to drag on. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 15, the South Dayi MP said the matter, which has been in the public domain for more than a decade, must now be pursued with “purpose and speed and dispatch” once there’s a basis from the court ruling in the United States. His comments follow renewed attention to the controversial power transaction after a United States prosecution involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko brought allegations of bribery connected to the power deal back into the spotlight.

Dafeamekpor said Ghanaian prosecutorial and investigative institutions had already played a role in assisting the US authorities with their investigations, making it important for Ghana to pursue its own inquiry into the matter. According to him, the involvement of Ghanaian institutions demonstrates that the matter has not been entirely outside the reach of the country’s prosecutorial authorities. He was responding in part to calls from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for an independent investigation, amid concerns about whether the Attorney-General can be trusted to lead an inquiry into the allegations.

Dafeamekpor described the NPP’s position as “very interesting”, noting that the allegations have existed for more than 10 years. “The matter has been with us for the past 10 years or more, but the Office of the Attorney-General may have decided that, let’s wait until there is a final determination of the matter before the US, then we can proceed,” he said. He argued that the conclusion of the US proceedings, or developments arising from them, should provide an opportunity for Ghanaian authorities to establish the full facts surrounding the transaction and determine whether any wrongdoing occurred.

Despite questioning the NPP’s distrust of the Attorney-General, Dafeamekpor said he supported calls for further investigations in Ghana. He stressed that the objective should be to uncover the truth rather than to protect individuals or p…