Mahama Ayariga, the majority leader, has promised extensive investigations into significant financial scandals, contentious contracts, and purported abuses during the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration led by Akufo-Addo and Bawumia.
His comments, made on Tuesday, May 27, at the start of the second meeting of the first session of the 9th Parliament, marked a clear turn toward more stringent regulation of public institutions.
Ayariga stressed that impunity is the biggest threat to Ghana’s democracy and that if Parliament does not punish individuals accountable for the “brazen plunder” of national resources, it will be violating the confidence of the people.
He vowed to uncover the crooked networks that have embezzled the country’s wealth and urged a “relentless pursuit of accountability” in public financial management.
A thorough parliamentary examination into the administration of Ghana’s COVID-19 money is one of the top priorities.
The contentious Agyapa Royalties arrangement and the $190 million PDS power distribution deal, which was terminated due to allegations of fraud and which Ayariga denounced as “reckless financial management that cost the nation dearly,” are also once again in the news.
The Majority Leader also declared that Parliament would investigate the former administration’s rampant use of sole-sourcing and politically connected contracts, claiming that they let a select few profit at the expense of regular Ghanaians.
Ayariga further remarked on the importance of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), the government operation focused on reclaiming stolen public cash. He reported that 36 financial cases—including land fraud involving over $702.2 million—are currently under consideration, with total damages estimated at over $20 billion.
“We will summon ORAL for updates. Ghanaians have a right to know the status of these recoveries,” he said.
He also raised the topic of the Bank of Ghana’s new headquarters, saying that the cost soared from an initial estimate of $81.8 million to $250 million.
The project was deemed “reckless” by Ayariga, who pointed out that $11.1 million had been spent on furniture despite the building’s structural instability and incompleteness.
“The hardworking citizens of Ghana who took to the streets in protest against such blatant mismanagement of public funds deserve answers,” he said, emphasizing that Parliament will not allow public protests to go unanswered. They must not have made these sacrifices in vain.
In addition to a harder stance on the Special Prosecutor’s performance, Ayariga revealed plans for frequent briefings from the Attorney General and the Minister for Justice. In order to reveal systemic corruption and suggest comprehensive governance reforms, he also revealed a plan for Senate hearings modeled after those in the US.
Ayariga said, “We are resetting Ghana’s governance systems and doing so with rigor.”
Source: newsthemegh.com