Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu has accused the Akufo-Addo-led government of deliberately pushing off its burdens into the future.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he said, will not be Ghana’s president after 2024 and neither will Ken Ofori-Atta, be the Finance Minister, and therefore encumbering the future with Agyapa royalties’ deal, yet another mortgaging of the country’s resource will be resisted.
Speaking at a media engagement with members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) last Tuesday under the auspices of the Public Affairs of Parliament, the Minority leader warned his side of the House will resist and fight against the transaction.
According to him, Ghana made US$120 million from mineral royalties this year alone and questioned how the government would seek to collateralize this source of funding because it is seeking to borrow just US$500 million.
“You are seeking to borrow US$500 million by collateralizing your mineral resources when Ghana made US$120 million from mineral royalties this year alone.”
“We’ve collateralised GETFund in the name of Daakye Trust. Today, GETFund takes GH¢1.3 billion and GH¢860 million is used to service debt. Is that what you want for our mineral resources,” he quizzed?
“You see, this particular administration is interested in postponing its burdens into the future when they are not in government,” he added.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu argued the Agyapa debate should be related to the numbers and pointed out that former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu conducted a risk assessment on the transaction with very revealing outcomes.
The findings and recommendations, he argued, have not been adequately responded to and stressed that to the extent these matters have not been adequately addressed including the allegations of corruption and graft associated with it, the Minority will never support it.
He dispelled rumours from government machinery that he has been consulted on the Agyapa transaction saying, “I have not been consulted anywhere.”
“Many of the issues that they come and tell you Haruna has been consulted, ask for a date and time where I was consulted and where and hold me responsible to it,” he said.