Ghana:I await your invitation; Mahama tells Special Prosecutor over $13m E.O. Fund claim

By Papisdaff Abdullah.

Mahama and Martin Amidu

Ghana’s immediate past President John Mahama has denied claims that he diverted $13 million of E.O. Group funds meant for the development of the Western Region.

This follows a petition filed by four private citizens at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, demanding that Martin Amidu investigate Mr Mahama over the matter.

In the petition, dated June18, 2018, the four said: “We submit before your office, this petition to invoke section 3(1)(b) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act,2017(Act 959) to have former President John Dramani investigated for alleged diversion of $13m meant for the development of Western Region from the E.O. group of company as part of their corporate social responsibilities.

However, a statement released by the former President’s Special Aide, Joyce Bawah Mogtari said the allegation “is another orchestrated but failed attempt by the NPP Government to divert attention from the numerous corruption scandals suffocating it”.

The statement further indicated that: “Former President Mahama, unlike President Nana Akufo-Addo, is incorruptible. He, therefore, welcomes the said petition and expects the Special Prosecutor who the petitioners claim is the originator and source of the false and dubious claims, to expeditiously commence its work”. 

Read the full statement below:

Former President John Mahama is incorruptible        

We have taken note of the circulation of what news reports, mischievously, say is a petition to the Special Prosecutor’s Office to investigate former President John Dramani Mahama for allegedly allowing the diversion of  $13million from a private company, EO Group, and meant for the development of the Western Region.

The above is obviously another false and dubious claim. Furthermore, the said petition is another orchestrated but failed attempt by the NPP Government to divert attention from the numerous corruption scandals suffocating it.

Former President Mahama, unlike President Nana Akufo-Addo, is incorruptible. He, therefore, welcomes the said petition and expects the Special Prosecutor who the petitioners claim is the originator and source of the false and dubious claims, to expeditiously commence its work.

It actually makes a mockery of the Special Prosecutor that the surrogates of the NPP will cite as their evidence, an article they say was written by him. This is a man who during his public vetting before parliament said the allegations he made against various people over the years, were based on perception.

To suggest as the petition claims that a President can divert funds from a private company in the circumstances described is absurd.