SIMCEL ONLINE

The controversy surrounding the suspended Agyapa Gold Royalties deal continues to brew, with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) raising concerns over the reported expenditure of USD$12 million on the botched arrangement. The issue resurfaced following revelations made by Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng, CEO of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), during a recent appearance before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.

In response to this disclosure, Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communication Officer of the NDC, lambasted the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government for what he perceived as a mismanagement of taxpayer funds. Gyamfi argued that the government’s decision to spend such a substantial amount on the abandoned Agyapa deal represents a financial loss to the state.

The NDC seized the opportunity to highlight critical national needs that could have been addressed with the $12 million expenditure. These include urgent payments for the treatment of kidney patients affected by the closure of the Renal Dialysis Unit at Korle Bu due to government indebtedness. Additionally, the party criticized the government’s failure to procure textbooks for basic schools and the prolonged delay in disbursing allowances to National Service Personnel.

Accusing certain individuals within the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration of self-interest, the NDC alleged that the $12 million payments were distributed among them under the guise of the failed Agyapa royalties arrangement. This, they claim, occurred while young people enrolled in the NABCO program faced unemployment.

In response to these developments, the NDC has vowed to investigate and recover all payments made in connection with the collapsed Agyapa Royalties deal and similar arrangements if the party, led by John Mahama, emerges victorious in the 2024 General Elections.

The NDC’s critique underscores ongoing scrutiny of government spending and accountability, setting the stage for intensified political debate in the lead-up to the elections. As the Agyapa saga unfolds, public attention remains focused on transparency and responsible stewardship of national resources.