Agyapa Royalties Deal Not Suspended

The Ministry of Finance has denied claims that the controversial Agyapa deal has been set aside.

A publication on September 3 had suggested that the deal had been suspended after the government met with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on September 2, 2020.

The Ministry, however, disputed this claim in a statement.

“The Ministry wishes to state that, the Agyapa Royalties transaction has not been suspended as is being reported on the Ghanaweb portal. We wish to also state that Mr. Mark Agyemang, Technical Manager of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee, who is purported to have said this in an interview with Starr FM, was not in this meeting,” the Ministry’s statement said.

The Ministry explained that the government and the CSOs only deliberated on issues relating to transparency and engagement over the deal at the said meeting.

“The meeting with the CSOs was one such consultation and the Ministry agreed with them to further broaden the consultations and to solicit further input from them and other Ghanaian constituencies going forward,” the statement added.

The government through the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) set up Agyapa Royalties Limited to monetise Ghana's gold royalties.

In exchange, the company plans to raise between $500 million and $750 million for the Government on the Ghana and London Stock exchanges to invest in developmental projects.

The deal, however, has become a topical issue following concerns from members of the opposition.

Civil Society groups in Mines and Energy have also described the Special Purpose Vehicle as one which is not transparent and must be suspended.

---citinewsroom