The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has described as unfortunate the closure of investigations into a suspected case of corruption involving Mr Charles Adu Boahen by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Mr Adu Boahen was implicated in the investigative exposé, “Galamsey Economy,” published by the TigerEye P.I in November 2022.
The OSP in a report dated October 30, 2023, announced the closure of investigations into the case, saying “there is no actual criminal prohibition of his acts in respect of which the OSP has a mandate to further act.”
Reacting to the development in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Madam Mary Awelena Addah, the Executive Director, GII, said Mr Adu Boahen was seen in the exposé carrying himself “unprofessionally” as a public officer.
She said that given that issues of influence, and peddling had not been specified in the Criminal Offences Act, it would be difficult for the OSP to prosecute Mr Adu Boahen until a time when laws are passed to cater for such offences.
“But is that the end of the matter? What else do we do, how do we take this process forward to ensure that in the future this does not happen again? That is the way to go,” she said.
Madam Addah said until the passage of a law that would criminalise influence peddling and other forms of misconduct among public officers, the appointing authority should demonstrate leadership and sanction officers who misconducted themselves.
“One of them is to fire such people, relieve them of their duties as quickly as possible. The naming and shaming is not enough,” she said.
The OSP’s findings
The OSP found that Mr Adu Boahen, during a meeting with the supposed investors in Dubai, “on his own volition”, suggested 20 per cent of the intended investment of $500 million as his cut.
It said Mr Adu Boahen, following a further enquiry by the supposed wealthy sheikh into what was required to make his investment successful, suggested the prudence of the payment of an appearance fee of $200,000 to the Vice President.
The OSP said the supposed sheikh offered Mr. Adu Boahen $40,000 in cash as shopping money, which the latter accepted “with gratitude”.
The OSP said Mr Adu Boahen stated that he politely accepted the cash gift in order not to offend the sensibility of a potential wealthy investor looking to invest half a billion United States dollars in Ghana.