Research think tank, Strategic Thinkers Network Africa has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate an attempt by Government of Ghana to purchase of a property in Oslo Norway to serve as a chancery for Ghana’s Embassy.
In the petition, a copy sighted by Awake News, STRANEK said “Since the Africawatch newspaper, the Norwegian newspaper Finansavisen and a legislator, Hon. Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa raised a red alert on some malfeasance regarding the purchase of the property, there has been no attempt by any investigative body or even an independent inquiry to look into the issue.”
“Since our long wait for an independent inquiry has proven to be an exercise in futility, we write to petition your office to look into the attempted purchase of a $12 million property in Norway specifically located at No. 3 Sigyns Gate, 0260 Oslo opposite the Frogner Park in Oslo which was set to be used as Ghana’s Embassy.” – the petition added
STRANEK said their “worry centres around the blatant denial by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration that the Government of Ghana had not made any commitment to the purchase of the aforementioned property even when the Norwegian artisans (workers) in the No.3 Sigyns Gate Building, 0260 Oslo in a video allegedly admitted the building was being renovated for use as Embassy under the request and directive of Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.”
Background:
December last year, the Minority in Parliament led their Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa raised a red flag on an attempted bloated purchase of a building to house Ghana’s new mission in Norway.
Following the revelations, the Minority said “We are considering the office of the Special Prosecutor, we are considering CHRAJ [Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice], we are considering EOCO [Economics and Organised Crime Office] because we want to get to the bottom of this,”
But President Akufo-Addo described the allegations as fabricated when he met the Press and rubbished the call.
“I think that for us, for a government and a President to say that he is going to acquiesce for an enquiry, you need to have some basis that raises some kind of prima facie case and in that case the President is duty bound to say let this matter be investigated.”
He said if he was to take the allegations seriously, his government will spend all its time on “enquiries because it clearly is a pattern of the opposition to throw these accusations in the air.”
Read a copy of the petition:
13th August, 2019.
Mr. Martin A. B. K. Amidu,
The Special Prosecutor,
Office of the Special Prosecutor,
Accra-Ghana.
Dear Sir,
PETITION TO INVESTIGATE THE OSLO CHANCERY DEAL
We wish to draw to your attention the attempted purchase of a property in Oslo Norway by the Government of Ghana to serve as a chancery for Ghana’s Embassy.
Since the Africawatch newspaper, the Norwegian newspaper Finansavisen and a legislator, Hon. Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa raised a red alert on some malfeasance regarding the purchase of the property, there has been no attempt by any investigative body or even an independent inquiry to look into the issue.
Since our long wait for an independent inquiry has proven to be an exercise in futility, we write to petition your office to look into the attempted purchase of a $12 million property in Norway specifically located at No. 3 Sigyns Gate, 0260 Oslo opposite the Frogner Park in Oslo which was set to be used as Ghana’s Embassy. Our worry centres around the blatant denial by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration that the Government of Ghana had not made any commitment to the purchase of the aforementioned property even when the Norwegian artisans (workers) in the No.3 Sigyns Gate Building, 0260 Oslo in a video allegedly admitted the building was being renovated for use as Embassy under the request and directive of Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. This is a cause to worry, hence another reason for our petition.
It is our candid view that there is some element of corruption inherent in the attempted purchase and for that matter the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) gives us the duty to petition your office on matters that involve or may involve corruption and corruption related offences.
We kindly hope to have a conclusive outcome on this petition.
Yours faithfully,
Nii Tettey Tetteh
Executive Director
+233 559 042 914
Emmanuel Osei Director of Policy and Political Affairs
+47 412 45 303
BY: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com