Godfred Dame, the Minister-designate for Justice and Attorney General, has said the former Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo, did not oppose the Agyapa Royalties deal.
He said records available indicated that Akuffo was never opposed to the transaction and it was clear in all the documents.
“I stand in all respect with what Gloria Akuffo did in respect of the Agyapa Royalties transaction. I am indicating for the records that the former Attorney General was never opposed to the transaction and that is clear in all the documents available to me,” he said.
Dame, former deputy attorney-general, said this when he appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for vetting on his nomination as the substantive Minister for Justice and Attorney General.
The government, through the Minerals Income Investment Fund, had set up the Agyapa Royalties Limited to securitise Ghana’s gold royalties.
The company had planned to raise between US$500 to US$750 million for the government on the Ghana and London Stock exchanges to invest in developmental projects.
Parliament, on 14 August 2020, approved the Agyapa Mineral Royalty Limited agreement with the government.
However, Gloria Akuffo, who headed the Attorney General’s office, had described the deal, in an opinion, as burdensome and not in the interest of Ghana.
The Attorney General’s office had explained that the benefits Ghana was expected to derive from the agreement were limited, given the strict obligations and sanctions attached to the deal.
Dame, in a spirited defence, insisted that Akuffo was not opposed to the transaction and that all advice from the Attorney General’s Office had been incorporated into the deal.
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