The People’s Alliance for Governance and Accountability (PAGA) has called for a parliamentary investigation into the AKSA power agreement bribery allegations, following evidence accepted in a United States criminal prosecution that money was paid to some members of Ghana’s Parliament in connection with the ratification of the transaction in 2015.
In a press statement, the pressure group noted that 18 members of parliament (MPs) served on the Mines and Energy Committee during the Third Session of the Sixth Parliament in 2015, when the AKSA Emergency Power Agreement was reviewed, approved and ratified.
“There is now evidence accepted in a United States criminal prosecution that money was paid to some Members of Ghana’s Parliament in connection with a transaction that Parliament was constitutionally required to scrutinize and approve. Our legislative body must identify who received it,” the statement said.
PAGA insists the inquiry must not be partisan, calling on the leadership of Parliament to establish an appropriate committee or mechanism to examine the allegations and summon all relevant persons and institutions.
“Parliament must demonstrate that it can investigate allegations concerning its own members with the same seriousness with which it scrutinizes the conduct of other public officials,” the group stated.
PAGA stressed it was not seeking to convict anyone outside a court of law. “We are asking for an investigation into the matter and further prosecution. We are asking for transparency. We are asking for accountability. Ghana deserves nothing less.”
