“Wealthy” Businessman Attempted to Bribe NPP MPs- OSP Establishes

Investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) have affirmed that a “wealthy” businessman in the country tried bribing New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislators into rescinding their demand for the resignation of the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori Atta.

The money offered was, however, rejected by the Members of Parliament, the investigations which spanned for eight months revealed.

A portion of the report on the investigations requested by pressure group Occupy Ghana said, “It appears from the OSP’s gathered intelligence that a wealthy businessman did attempt to offer money to a section of the majority caucus of Parliament with the intention of influencing their demand for the resignation or removal of Mr Ofori-Atta as Minister for Finance. It also appears that the monetary offer was rejected by the contacted Members of Parliament.”

Appiah-Kubi’s Uncooperative Attitude
Although the OSP has a clue about the said “wealthy” businessman, he failed to disclose it in his report, noting that the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North Constituency, Hon Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the whistleblower, failed to confirm it.

According to the report, Hon Appiah-Kubi refused to assist the OSP in the investigations.

“He refused to disclose the identities of the Members of Parliament present at the meeting with the undisclosed businessman. He refused to disclose the identity of the wealthy businessman. He refused to disclose the amount of money offered by the undisclosed businessman. He refused to answer all other questions posed to him.”

“Mr. Appiah-Kubi showed open hostility to the authorised officers of the OSP and he was unyielding in his resolve not to cooperate with the investigation. Indeed, he flatly refused to cooperate with the OSP, though he had stated that he would fully cooperate with the investigation, and though he declared to the media subsequent to the OSP’s interview that he fully cooperated with the OSP.”

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Suame constituency, Hon Kyei Mensah Bonsu who at the time reiterated the allegations, told the investigators his statement was based on rumours and the fore statement of his colleague.

That notwithstanding, the OSP found that the individual he provided as a clue visited Parliament on the same day the meeting between the wealthy businessman and the MPs took place.

However, the person denied having a meeting with the MPs to influence their demand during an interrogation by the OSP.

No Prosecution
With the turn of events, the OSP noted that it cannot prosecute in this regard since the accuser has refused to avail.

It has thus called for the closure of the case.

“The Special Prosecutor directs the closure of the investigation in respect of allegations that a well-known and wealthy businessman attempted to bribe a section of the majority caucus of Parliament. The Special Prosecutor determines that the institution of criminal proceedings, at this time, against the OSP’s identified suspect would serve no useful purpose.”

Background
On November 3, 2022, OccupyGhana petitioned the OSP to investigate allegations of attempted bribery of the majority caucus of Parliament.

This was after the said businessman had offered some money to some NPP MPs to rescind their demand for the removal of the Finance Minister for mismanaging the economy.

In a subsequent interview, Hon Appiah-Kubi alleged that a well-known wealthy Ghanaian businessman visited Parliament House on October 1, 2022, and requested a meeting with a section of NPP Members of Parliament and then offered them huge sums of money in envelopes with the intention of influencing them to rescind their demand for the resignation or removal of Ofori-Atta.