Agyapa Minerals Royalties: Ghana for Sale

In Ghana, few events have stirred as much controversy and indignation as the approval of the Agyapa Royalties deal. You may recall how, in a stunning display of partisan maneuvering, five transactions were rammed through Parliament in a mere 24 hours, approved exclusively by NPP parliamentarians. This expedited process raises serious questions about the due diligence and moral compass of these members of parliament. It is a stark reminder of the fragility of our democratic processes when subjected to the pressures of political expediency and personal gain.

The NDC minority, in a dramatic protest, staged a walkout, highlighting the deep-seated concerns surrounding the Agyapa Royalties. This walkout was not merely a political gesture; it was a clarion call against the opaque and hurried manner in which these transactions were approved. The absence of a bipartisan consensus, with the NDC entirely sidelined, casts a long shadow over the legitimacy of the deal. Such a significant national decision, involving the monetization of Ghana’s gold resources, should have been subjected to thorough scrutiny and debate, reflecting the interests of all Ghanaians, not just a select few.

Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana’s Finance Minister, announced the monetization of the country's gold resources with grand promises. Establishing a policy to leverage the future wealth of Ghana’s gold might sound appealing, but the Agyapa Royalties deal is a deeply flawed execution of this vision. Mortgaging Ghana’s royalties from gold for a paltry $500 million is not just short-sighted; it is a gross undervaluation of our national assets. This policy, far from serving the national interest, appears to be a calculated move by the so-called Akyem Mafia, orchestrated by Ofori-Atta and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to siphon off wealth from the nation.

The key figures in this saga—Ken Ofori-Atta, Charles Adu Boahen, Felicia Ashley, and Mr. Adjenim Boateng—have played significant roles that reek of fraudulence. The process was riddled with bid rigging, undermining any semblance of fairness or transparency. Data Bank, the financial institution founded by Ken Ofori-Atta, was intricately involved in the Agyapa Royalties, raising glaring conflicts of interest. It is an open secret that Ofori-Atta used his bank, Data Bank, to siphon money from the Ghanaian taxpayer, cloaked in the guise of financial management fees and expenses.

President Nana Addo, who once promised to protect the public purse, has instead facilitated this grand heist through executive orders. The Agyapa Royalties deal was designed not to benefit Ghanaians but to line the pockets of a select few at the top. It is unfathomable to sell Ghana’s royalties at such an underpriced value, mortgaging our future for a fraction of what it is worth.

The formation of Agyapa Royalties reveals a network of insiders with ties to the highest echelons of power. The Agyapa Deal is not about Ghana’s prosperity; it is about enriching a small, powerful elite, specifically, the Akyem Mafias.

Unfortunately, many opinion journalists have sold their consciences, failing to voice out the nefarious activities of the NPP administration. Their silence is a betrayal of the public trust, leaving the ordinary Ghanaian uninformed and vulnerable to exploitation.

Posterity should not forgive those involved in the Agyapa Royalties deal. This episode in our nation’s history should serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked political power and the importance of vigilance in protecting our national assets. The Agyapa Royalties deal is not just a bad deal; it is a national tragedy, a sale of Ghana’s future, orchestrated by those entrusted to safeguard it.

Ebenezer Ato Ntarkurfah Jackson, Cornell University, MBA Class of 2015, [email protected]