President Akufo-Addo sacks Finance Minister over corruption allegations

*Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo fires his Minister of State for Finance over corruption allegations made in an upcoming documentary on illegal gold mining, amid the country’s 40 percent inflation rise and drop in national currency

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Amid a relative lull in the economy, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana,  Monday, November 14, 2022, fired Mr. Charles Adu Boahen, his Minister of State for Finance over alleged corruption made in an upcoming documentary on illegal gold mining in the West African country.

Akufo-Addo, in a statement, said the President has “terminated the appointment of the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Charles Adu Boahen, with immediate effect.”

The fallout from the expose by a well-known investigative journalist comes as the government is under pressure over a faltering economy and lawmakers even from his own party push Akufo-Addo to fire Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta, AFP report said.

The Ghanaian Presidency’s statement said Akufo-Addo’s decision was sequel to “being made aware of the allegations” against Boahen in the documentary titled, “Galamsey Economy,” which was scheduled for release Monday.

The Ghanaian President also referred the case to prosecutors for further investigation.

Governing party lawmaker Davis Opoku said in a Facebook post, that “the sacking of Charles Adu Boahen is meaningless unless it is linked to the resignation of Ken Ofori-Atta.”

Teasers from the expose reportedly showed Boahen in what the documentary claims are images of him trying to demand $200,000 from potential investors to give to the Vice President of Ghana, to allow them to do business in the country.

Galamsey is a local Ghanaian phrase referring to the “illegal or unregulated, small-scale gold mining operations.”

Meanwhile, report indicates Boahen has not commented on the allegations made in the teasers.

However,  ahead of the  announcement big his sack, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia Monday had said that he was not aware of any meeting in which Boahen had used his name to “peddle influence and collect money from supposed investors.”

Bawumia wrote on Twitter: “If what the Minister is alleged to have said is accurately captured in the video, then his position as a minister of state is untenable.

“I will not allow anyone to use my name to engage in corrupt activities.”

Investigator’s indicting documentary

Anas Aremeyaw Anas produced the documentary, and his previous films have led to a ban on the former Ghana FA President by FIFA and sanctioning of over 50 referees across Africa, report noted.

Anas has also investigated the country’s Judiciary leading to the dismissal of over 30 superior and lower court judges in Ghana over bribes to drop cases.

It was learnt the documentary would have a public screening at the Accra International Conference Centre for two days

Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, a civil society organisation (CSO) referring to the teaser images, said: “The minister was too excited at the opportunity.

“Will wait for the full video though.”

Akufo-Addo has been under increasing pressure after recently opening negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over a potential $3billion loan to help shore up the country’s economy.

The Ghanaian President, October 2022, appealed to the citizenry to support his efforts at managing the “crisis” as inflation has hit 40 percent and the national currency, the Cedi, has dropped sharply.

Lawmakers are equally investigating Finance Minister Ofori-Atta over economic mismanagement and other allegations though he is currently leading the talks with the IMF team over the loan deal.