By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
Accra, Nov. 12, GNA – Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has directed that allegations of US$46,000 bribery involving members of Parliament’s Energy Committee during the consideration of the AKSA Emergency Power Agreement in 2015 be referred to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for further investigation.
The allegations were made by former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Mr Asante Kwaku Berko, who claimed that money was paid to influence the parliamentary approval process for the agreement.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Bagbin said an internal administrative review had been conducted to establish the circumstances surrounding the consideration, and approval of the agreement, and to identify those who participated in the parliamentary proceedings related to the transaction.
He said the review formed part of Parliament’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity whenever allegations of misconduct were made against the House or its members.
Mr Bagbin noted that the review did not uncover evidence that any Member of Parliament or staff of the Parliamentary Service received the alleged payments in connection with the approval of the agreement.
“The records and interviews examined did not yield evidence that any Member of Parliament or officer of the Parliamentary Service received the alleged payments in connection with the approval of the Agreement,” he told the House.
The Speaker, however, cautioned that the review was limited to materials and information available to Parliament, and could neither conclusively establish whether any payments were made nor determine the identities of any potential recipients.
He said such matters could only be effectively investigated by competent law enforcement agencies with the authority to examine financial transactions, communication records, and other evidence outside Parliament’s reach.
Consequently, Mr Bagbin directed that the review report and all supporting documentation be formally transmitted to the OSP and any other relevant investigative body to aid ongoing and future inquiries into the allegations.
He also instructed the Clerk to Parliament to preserve all parliamentary records, correspondence and documents relating to the consideration and approval of the AKSA Emergency Power Agreement and make them available to investigators whenever required.
The Speaker maintained that Parliament, as an institution entrusted with holding public officials and institutions accountable, must itself adhere to the highest standards of transparency, and accountability.
He said referring to the matter to the OSP would help establish the full facts surrounding the allegations and ensure that any person found culpable was dealt with in accordance with the law.
The AKSA Energy Company agreement formed part of government’s efforts to address Ghana’s prolonged electricity crisis, popularly known as “dumsor”, which peaked between 2014 and 2015.
The agreement enabled the deployment of emergency power generation facilities to supplement the country’s electricity supply and reduce recurring power outages.
In 2015, Parliament considered and approved the AKSA Emergency Power Agreement through its Committee on Mines and Energy, now the Energy Committee.
Over the years, sections of the public and civil society organisations have called for greater scrutiny of power sector contracts executed during the emergency power procurement period due to concerns about costs, procurement processes and value for money.
The latest referral to the OSP follows renewed public interest in claims that some individuals may have sought to improperly influence parliamentary approval of the AKSA agreement, allegations that Parliament says require independent investigation by the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei