OSP Conclusion On Charles Adu Boahen Unacceptable- NDC
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has kicked against the conclusion of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in the case of former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen as unacceptable.
The opposition party disagrees with the OSP’s conclusion that the action of the Adu Boahen as captured in the documentary by Tiger PI does not amount to a crime and therefore cannot be prosecuted.
According to the Party, the conclusion of the OSP is “flawed and misconceived”. It generally finds the report a cover-up.
“The report smacks of a cover-up and has the potential to dampen public confidence in the Office of Special Prosecutor if not reviewed immediately. The conduct of Charles Adu Boahen constitutes corruption of monumental proportions and must not go unpunished.”
Extortion
According to the Party, the former government official exhibited extortion per section 247 of the Criminal and Other Offenses Act, 1960 (ACT 29), as amended.
“Having forensically verified the audio-visual recording adduced by Tiger Eye P. I as a true reflection of the events represented thereon, and having conclusively established that Charles Adu Boahen indeed, demanded a bribe of 20% of the value of the initial investment or an upfront payment of 10% of the value of the proposed investment and a post-investment sharing of the proceeds of same from undercover agents of Tiger Eye P. I who were posing as businessmen interested in investing in Ghana, it is totally unacceptable for the OSP to have concluded that Charles Adu is not guilty of a crime.”
“A public officer commits extortion who, under colour of office, demands or obtains from a person, whether for public purposes or for personal gain or for any other person money or valuable consideration which the public officer knows is not lawfully authorised or at a time at which the public officer knows is not lawfully authorized to demand or to obtain that money or valuable consideration,” it added.
New Investigation
The NDC has promised to institute a new investigation into the issue with the sole aim of prosecuting culprits when it comes to power and has thus called on the public to reject the report.
Background
Tiger Eye PI released an investigative piece in November 2022 titled “Galamsey Economy” which exposed Adu Boahen taking bundles of US Dollars (bribe) from an undercover journalist disguised as a potential investor for Ghana to lead him.
In his conversation with the said investor, the former government official demanded a 20% cut of the investment worth US$500,000,000.00 and US$200,000.00 as an appearance fee for a meeting with the Vice President.
Additionally, he received US$40,000.00 from the investor for shopping.
These were accompanied by his lectures about his close relationship with the President, the Vice President as well as his father’s former position in the country.
On November 14, following the release of the trailer to the documentary, President Akufo-Addo referred the alleged corruption and corruption-related case to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for investigations.
The investigations span six months.
In its findings, the OSP established that the former Minister of State engaged in influence peddling when he offered to introduce a masquerading investor to Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia at an appearance fee of USD200,000 and demanded a 20% cut of the investment.
“Mr Adu Boahen engaged in trading in influence or influence peddling by employing his political office and close personal ties to the President and the Vice President to obtain favours of an actual cash gift and a prospective percentage cut of the proposed investment by the supposed sheikh,” a report of the OSP’s investigations in the case said.
According to the OSP, the Vice President did not know about the said encounter and deal.
The OSP further announced the closure of the investigation without prosecution, noting that influence peddling was not criminal in Ghana.
