A Ghanaian citizen has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate President John Mahama, his brother Ibrahim Mahama and several state actors over alleged conflicts of interest linked to the reported takeover of mining company Azumah Resources.
The petition, submitted by Dennis Frimpong and received by CHRAJ on Monday, calls for an inquiry into whether public office, political influence or state-linked financial institutions were improperly used to support a business transaction allegedly involving the president’s brother.
Details
Frimpong argues that the circumstances surrounding the acquisition raise questions under Article 284 of Ghana’s Constitution, which prohibits public officials from placing themselves in situations where their personal interests conflict with their official duties.
Central to the complaint is a reported financing arrangement involving the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), which the petitioner says may have supported the transaction.
He notes that Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, appointed by President Mahama, serves as chairman of the bank’s Board of Governors, creating what he describes as an appearance of institutional conflict.
The petition also cites constitutional provisions governing the management of Ghana’s mineral resources and asks CHRAJ to determine whether executive authority or access to state institutions was used to facilitate private commercial gain.
Other requests
Among other requests, Frimpong wants CHRAJ to investigate the role of government ministries and agencies in the transaction, determine whether all required approvals were obtained, and examine reports that President Mahama benefited from the use of a private jet allegedly owned or controlled by Ibrahim Mahama.
The petitioner further called on CHRAJ to publish its findings and recommend sanctions or prosecutions should any wrongdoing be established.
Azumah Resources is a gold exploration and development company with operations in Ghana’s Upper West Region and has recently undergone ownership changes that have attracted public attention.
Source: asaaseradio.com
