President Nana Akufo-Addo has found the allegations that the Trade and Industry Ministry extorted money from expatriates, as part of the Ghana Expatriate Business Awards ceremony, baseless.
The Ministry was alleged to have charged between $25,000 and $100,000 to enable expatriates to sit close to the President at the Ghana Expatriate Business Awards.
[contextly_sidebar id=”7uPvFEK5fhoVSdPRZlvOZfZCRx50CYgX”]Following a query to the Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyeremanten, demanding answers from him over the allegations, a statement from the government has said “the facts, as reported to the President, do not disclose any wrongdoing on the part of the Minister of any government official.”
In view of this, the President has “therefore asked the Minister to put those facts before the Ghanaian people.”
The Trade and Industry Ministry, and the President of the Millennium Excellence Foundation, which organised the awards, has already denied the allegations, which first came from the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak.
The foundation, however, stated that donations were actively solicited for the Ghana Expatriate Business Awards with the help of the Trades Ministry, and the highest donors were expected to get preferential treatment.
Minority’s call for ‘proper’ probe
But the Minority has maintained that, there was some wrongdoing by the two parties, and has indicated that, it is ready to appear before any investigative body to provide evidence of extortion from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said he is prepared to make available receipts proving the alleged extortion at the appropriate avenues.
The Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, also wants Parliament to set up a committee to probe the alleged extortion.
He said an investigation will establish the veracity of the allegations, and put the matter to rest and allow Parliament to redeem itself.
Find below the full statement
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana