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An update on 3 major unresolved corruption cases

In this blog post, we go back to 2019 to find out the status of three groundbreaking anti-corruption cases in our bid to pursue cases from start to finish, prevent impunity and ensure reform.

The cases we will be focusing on are the Galamsey Fraud case, the Missing Excavators case and the ‘Contracts for Sale‘ procurement scandal.

GALAMSEY FRAUD 

On Wednesday, 27th February, 2019, ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas released a 27-minute documentary titled “Galamsey Fraud Part One.” In an article published on Ghana Web ahead of the premier of the documentary, Anas authored the following: “A measure to minimize the mess and menace of illegal mining in the motherland is being undermined by men mandated to manage the menace, leaving Ghana at the mercy of mercenary miners and monstrous money-grabbers within the corridors of power.”

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Adwoa Safo gives NPP Delegates 3,000 cash; Insurance Policy Worth 10,000Ghs

A Corruption Watch investigation has found that Procurement Minister, Sarah Adwoa Safo, allegedly gave GHc3,000 and a GLICO Life Insurance package worth GHc10,000 to delegates in the just ended NPP primaries.

 Her challenger, Michael Aaron Oquaye Jr., Ghana’s High Commissioner to India, on the other hand, allegedly gave GHc3,000, a 32-inch Nasco flat screen television set and an Indian-made cloth to the 500 delegates. The candidates targeted 500 delegates which they needed to win. 

Last dinner to election @ residence of Mike Oquaye Jr

Meanwhile a Corruption Watch follow up check on the GLICO insurance cover found that the cover took effect three days to the election, June 17, 2020 and will expire on June 16, 2021. The “Insurance Interest” was for the benefit of “Delegates of the Dome Kwabenya Constituency

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EXPOSED: How Candidates Bought Votes in NPP Primaries

A Corruption Watch investigation has found that the deputy MASLOC CEO, Hajia Abibata Shani Mahama Zakaria facilitated the use of MASLOC money to allegedly induce delegates in the Yendi Constituency during the recent New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries.

The investigation uncovered that she used state resources for her personal gain just as other candidates were also captured by Corruption Watch inducing delegates with money, machinery and appliances in seven regions monitored by Corruption Watch.

In the Yendi Constituency, aspirants even gave out food packages including a bowl of dried fish, a box of Maggi and a pack of powdered salt.

These are part of findings from widely conducted investigations that were carried out before, during and immediately after the NPP primaries in the Ashanti, Bono, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern and Western regions. 

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Intensify seizure of assets of corrupt officials – Experts say as Corruption Watch launches Webcast series

Two anti-corruption experts have said the recent order by an Accra High Court for the seizure of assets of persons convicted in the NCA case is a significant deterring anti-corruption measure.

Overall, they view Justice Eric Kyei Baffour’s judgement as the clearest indication yet of the application of laws to combat corruption.

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Judgement in NCA case “reasoned and solid” – Private legal practitioner Korieh Duodu


A private legal practitioner and anti-corruption expert, Korieh Duodu, has said the decision by the court in the NCA case provides the clearest indication yet of the application of laws to combat corruption.
In an interview with Corruption Watch he explained the decision also showed how state agencies could work together to ensure corruption cases are effectively investigated, prosecuted, accused persons convicted and the proceeds of the crime potentially recovered.


“Well, I think that this is a reasoned and solid judgement, delivered after a case has been investigated and prosecuted over two-and-a-half years…And I would say that this is a significant case with important ramifications in Ghana’s fight against corruption because it has a number of powerful features to it which should stand Ghana in good stead in recovering stolen funds in future.”


The full interview with Corruption Watch’s Frederick Asiamah is to be broadcast on Corruption Watch’s podcast soon.In the same podcast, Mrs Linda Ofori-Kwafo, Executive Director of Ghana Integrity Initiative, views the judgement as a shot in the arm for anti-corruption crusaders. “I think it’s a boost and reassurance that there is hope and that if we continue to do the right things we are likely to get the results that we are looking for.”

Source: Frederick Asiamah

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Breakdown of the NCA scandal

The NPP government’s first attempt at prosecuting alleged corrupt persons when it took office was when the Attorney General’s (AG) Department arraigned before court, persons allegedly involved in the $6million National Communications Authority (NCA) corruption case. This was in December 2017.

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CWatch reflections: Non-performing and corrupt contractors need to be blacklisted.

Imagine this, if you will. A company is given taxpayers’ money to construct a hospital, which should provide healthcare services; or a road for your safe travel; or a school for the training of our children. What happens next? The company either fails to deliver or does a substandard job. Your response I guess will be that they should be sanctioned. Isn’t it? But guess what, the company gets away with it.

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A Deep Dive into the Auditor General’s Performance Audit for Roads

If the Tetteh-Quarshie to Madina highway is your usual route, I have a couple of revelations for you. Number one: there was approximately 117 months of delay to that project. Number two: the extensions of time resulted in additional costs of about 146.91 million Ghana cedis or six hundred and twenty-four percent (624%).

That is not all. I will also take you through some more revealing facts about the construction of the East Legon to Spintex Road Tunnel and the Ayamfuri to New Obuase Road Project, among others. 

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