Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has never used nolle prosequi to discontinue corruption cases against its appointees. He made this assertion while defending the party's record on prosecuting corruption.
Mr. Baffour Awuah's comments directly addressed claims by Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who suggested the NPP had previously employed nolle prosequi in such cases. The MP firmly rejected this, stating, "at no point has the New Patriotic Party ever, whilst in government, filed nolle prosequi in respect of any of our appointees." He cited the prosecution and conviction of former Sports Minister Alhaji Mallam Issah under President John Agyekum Kufuor as proof of the party's commitment to accountability.
This defense emerges amidst renewed public scrutiny of the AKSA Power transaction. The United States Department of Justice alleges that former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner Berko participated in a bribery scheme. This scheme aimed to secure and retain business linked to a power plant project in Ghana. US prosecutors claim Mr. Berko was involved between December 2014 and March 2017. He was extradited from the United Kingdom in July 2024 to face charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and money-laundering laws.
Mr. Baffour Awuah highlighted that the AKSA allegations raise serious questions about Ghana's public decision-making integrity. He also questioned the nation's ability to prevent and prosecute corruption domestically. The MP stressed that Ghana cannot ignore these allegations simply because they are being pursued in a foreign jurisdiction. He noted that such instances of compromised Ghanaian public contracts, with convictions in foreign courts, are becoming too frequent.
The Manhyia South MP argued that the alleged involvement of public officials makes the matter particularly serious. These officials were responsible for decisions concerning the AKSA Energy deal. He believes that the allegations expose significant weaknesses in Ghana's systems. These systems are meant to ensure value for money, prevent corruption, and prosecute suspected offenders. He observed that repeated failures in these systems indicate something is "terribly wrong."
Mr. Baffour Awuah therefore maintained that the NPP's call for an inquiry into the AKSA transaction is justified. He believes such an inquiry should lead to concrete action. The inquiry must establish the facts surrounding the transaction and identify any officials involved. It should also determine if any laws or procedures were breached. He further called for prosecutions where criminal wrongdoing is established. Additionally, he urged for reforms to address any institutional weaknesses uncovered by the investigation. This comprehensive approach aims to strengthen Ghana's anti-corruption framework and restore public trust in government contracts.