The coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) working in the extractive, anti-corruption, and good governance areas has reiterated its call for the government to suspend the Agyapa Mineral Royalties deal for a further national conversation on it.

In a statement signed by the CSOs, they said that there were still important questions requiring a national conversation.

The CSOs reiterated their suspension call one week after their leaders had met with the country’s Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, in Accra.

Ghana’s finance minister had said that the government was ready to broaden consultations to fill any communication gap in the Agyapa Royalties transaction.

But the nation’s finance minister later suggested during an interview on Joy FM that he will go ahead with the Agyapa deal as he noted that part of proceeds to be realised from the Agyapa Royalties Investment Ltd deal will be used to fund the GH¢100-billion Ghana CARES Obaatanpa programme.

‘We find it rather unfortunate that, while the minister for finance has favourably responded to the call for further consultations, he has publicly stated that he will go ahead with the transaction regardless of the serious concerns being raised by a large section of the Ghanaian population’, the statement read.

‘Such posturing raises doubts about the genuineness of the pledge to undertake further consultations’.

According to the CSOs, the government has not been forthcoming with information on the Agyapa deal to enable others evaluate it.

‘We have so far been constrained in our analysis of this transaction by our inability to access the full complement of data and assumptions used in government’s valuation of the royalties being traded’.

The CSOs also said, ‘At our last meeting with the ministry, some slides containing some data were presented. However, when we requested for copies, those particular slides of interest to us, were omitted either deliberately or inadvertently’.

The CSOs had asked the government of the West African country to suspend the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) deal until all documents tied to its establishment and its owners have been disclosed.

The Agyapa Royalties Limited was established by the government though the Minerals Income Investment Fund to manage the country’s mineral royalties.

But the CSOs working on extractive, anti-corruption and good governance said in a statement that the policy was being implemented in an opaque manner.

However, at a press briefing, Ghana’s ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Director, Yaw Asamoa, challenged the CSOs to ask for clarifications on the deal rather than insinuating that government had ill intentions.

‘Ghana for over 100 years has been exporting gold and we cannot identify any tangible thing we have used those monies for’, he said.

‘So what we are asking CSOs to do is to interrogate these things dispassionately. If you want to know what the money we will make will be used for, ask. If you want to know how we will sustain value, ask.

‘Ask the right questions but do not impugn motives that appear to negate the transparency of the whole process of this deal. The deal was not rushed’.

Asamoa noted that the government’s decision to list the country’s royalties was to help rake in more revenue for developmental projects across Ghana.

Source: Graphic Online