The government of President Mahama has started probing former appointees of the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration suspected to have links with alleged illegalities while in office.
It is not clear how many of the Akufo-Addo political appointees would be pursued by the investigative bodies, but at least three are already in the dragnet of National Investigation Bureau (NIB).
At the last count on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 the former minister for Railways, Joe Ghartey; the former board chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi; the former deputy director of operations, National Service Authority (NSA), Kwaku Ohene Gyan; and others have all been contacted by the National Investigation Bureau.
Joe Ghartey is reported to be assisting the NIB in investigating the Sky Train project, since he was the sector minister for railways.
Also, the Board Chairman of the Public Procurement Authority, Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi, was arrested by the NIB and granted bail. Reports have suggested that the NIB is chasing him for alleged involvement in some million-dollar transaction.
It has been suggested that the arrests could be linked to the Sky Train project where some payments were made but the project did not see the light of day, though The Chronicle is yet to independently verify same.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi and his lawyers have not stated the reason for his arrest by the NIB, after securing a bail.
However, in the case of former officials of the National Service Authority, Gifty Oware-Mensah, who was the Deputy Director,is yet to appear before the NIB,but former NSA Deputy Director, Kwaku Ohene Gyan has reported to the security outfit.
The NSA probe has come on the heels of investigative report by the Fourth Estate, a Media Foundation for West Africa project on alleged ghost names on the National Service System.
RESET
All these are happening nearly two months into the second coming of John Mahama, who has promised a reset.
Though investigating and possibly prosecuting former government appointees is not new, it is not known whether this government will be keen to pursue more of the former ministers for accountability, which is part of its resetting agenda.
ORAL
The actions being taken by the NIB appear separate from the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) operations, which has sent its report to the president, who has also handed it over to the Attorney General for further action.
The National Service allegation is part of the ORAL report, as The Fourth Estate submitted it to the committee, with the Office of the Special Prosecutor also carrying out investigations on the same issue.
ACCOUNTABILITY
In a related development, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has, since assuming office, withdrawn about five political cases involving members of the ruling party.
Some of the cases are – Republic vrs Ato Forson;Republic v. Ofosu Ampofo & Another; Case ofDr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni & Seidu Agongo and Case of Dr. Johnson Asiama, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana,
These individuals were facing trials for alleged acts of causing financial loss to the state.
The AG, in his defence, said President Mahama should not be blamed for the nolle prosequi he had filed and that all the decisions came from him.
