Authorities spokesperson Felix Kwaki Ofosu has defended President John Mahama in opposition to allegations of state seize involving businessman Ibrahim Mahama and the Daman mining deal.
Rep. Abula Aseb Kwamankesu advised PM Categorical on Monday that the President intentionally didn’t take part within the cupboard dialogue on the Daman mining concession due to his brother’s curiosity within the difficulty.
Responding to the minority declare that Mr. Ibrahim Mahama was ready to affect the choices of the Minerals Fee and take over the Daman mine, Mr. Kwaki Ofosu maintained that the President acted ethically all through the method.
“When the Minister of Land and Pure Sources introduced the matter to the Cupboard for consideration, the President recused himself. He didn’t attend that assembly,” he stated.
When requested why the President walked out, Kwaki Ofosu defined that Mahama believed it was the proper moral resolution.
“He believed it was the moral factor to do as a result of he did not need a scenario the place it appeared like he was overseeing choices about firms during which his brother had an curiosity,” he stated.
He stated the vice chairman chaired the assembly in Mahama’s absence.
Kwaki Ofosu additional disclosed that the Cupboard rejected the thought of handing over the lease straight and as an alternative insisted on a aggressive course of.
“Cupboard insisted on utilizing a aggressive course of to pick which firms would get it,” he stated.
He argued that earlier governments might have merely awarded such leases with out competitors, however this administration has chosen a unique path.
“The federal government might have merely handed it over to E&P and not using a aggressive course of, as has been the case prior to now, however the Cupboard insisted on utilizing a aggressive course of,” he added.
A authorities spokesperson insisted the president had no affect on the end result and remained certain by the collective resolution of ministers.
“He was not concerned in decision-making and didn’t rush the method,” Kwakye Ofosu careworn.
He additionally revealed that Mr Mahama repeatedly walked away each time the difficulty got here up once more in cupboard conferences.
“Each time the difficulty comes up in cupboard, he’ll recoil,” he stated.
Kwaki Ofosu stated ministers’ discussions on the difficulty had been intense and open, rejecting options that ministers had been merely supporting a predetermined consequence.
“The cupboard discussions that day had been powerful. Individuals brazenly expressed their views with out concern or favor,” he revealed.
He added that the ministers freely expressed their views below the management of the vice chairman.
“There was no rubber stamp resolution,” he stated.
Kwakye Ofosu insisted that every one authorized and parliamentary formalities wanted to be accomplished earlier than the lease may very well be finalized.
“So if the president says he turned it over to his brother, that is utterly false,” he stated.
He went on to claim that “the largest impediment to E&P’s acquisition of the Daman mine was the president.”
