play videoGabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party
Cousin of the president, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has finally reacted to his involvement in the controversial Agyapa Deal which the government abandoned in 2020 on the back of political opposition and outcry by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
In a tweet dated August 15, 2023; Gabby called out CSOs who took the deal to a regional court in Abuja which dismissed it, and yet they have been quiet over the ruling since last year.
He insisted that the deal was going to be in the interest of Ghana ultimately and yet it was scuttled for political reasons.
"I wonder why Transparency International, Ghana Integrity Initiative and the CSOs who went to an international court over Agyapa have been quiet since July after their case was dismissed on all fronts.
"But, I thank them for that move. It is good for our democracy. And, I will urge you all to read the decision of the ECOWAS court. Agyapa, a very legitimate, even if controversial, move by govt to expand the use of its gold revenues, had no corruption about it. Zero!" he claimed.
The Agyapa Royalties deal
In 2020, the government of Ghana proposed a deal which was meant to raise money by floating shares in a company called Agyapa Royalties Limited on the London Stock Exchange.
This deal was met with wide criticism from civil society groups and the opposition, who claimed that it was a secretive and corrupt deal that would allow politicians to enrich themselves at the expense of the country.