The Minority in Parliament has issued a warning over what it describes as a “dangerous drift towards state capture” in Ghana’s mining sector.
The caucus is accusing businessman Ibrahim Mahama, brother of President John Mahama, of wielding undue influence over key state institutions.
Addressing journalists in Parliament, the Minority Spokesperson on Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, alleged that since the President’s return to office, companies linked to Ibrahim Mahama have gained unprecedented and unfair advantages.
He argued that this growing convergence between private corporate interests and public regulatory bodies poses a serious threat to transparency and democratic accountability.
“Now Ghana stands today at a defining moment in our natural resource governance. Barely one year into the administration of President John Dramani Mahama, we are witnessing what can only be described as a dangerous drift towards state capture in the mining sector,” Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong stated.
“This is not an abstract concern. This is not rhetorical or alarmism. This is unfolding in real time through decisions, patterns, and actions that threaten our institutional integrity, economic stability, and democratic accountability.”
The Minority used the upcoming transition of the Damang gold mine from Goldfields Ghana to the state as a key example of the lack of transparency.
They expressed alarm that Parliament and the Ghanaian public have been kept in the dark about who will operate the asset, creating uncertainty for workers and contractors.
However, the core of the Minority’s accusation lies in the alleged systematic placement of individuals with close ties to Ibrahim Mahama in leadership positions across the mining sector’s regulatory landscape.
Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong detailed several appointments to bolster his case, claiming that the CEO of GIADEC was the personal lawyer of Ibrahim Mahama, and that a member of the GIADEC board, Mr. Augustus Agbeli-Amegashi, has been providing consultancy services to Ibrahim Mahama’s Exton Cubic Group and Engineers & Planners.
He further alleged that the Deputy CEO of the Minerals Commission in charge of Local Content and Mineral Titles, Victoria Awuni, previously worked as group manager for compliance at Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers & Planners, and also serves on the governing board of GIADEC.
Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong also pointed to the CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, noting his previous role as public relations officer for Ibrahim Mahama’s Exton Cubic, while also claiming that the CEO of the Minerals Income and Investment Fund is known to have a long-standing connection with Mr. Ibrahim Mahama.
“Taken individually, each of these may be explained, but taken together, they point to something far more serious and dangerous, a growing convergence between public institutions and a single private corporate orbit,” the Minority Spokesperson asserted.
He further highlighted a structural change, noting that the Ghana Gold Board, formerly the PMMC, has been removed from the direct oversight of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
This, he argued, effectively places a key state agency outside the Ministry’s control.
“Every major agency that should report to the Minister now answers to Ibrahim Mahama’s orbit, not to the Minister or Parliament,” Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong claimed.
Drawing a parallel with the previous administration’s campaign tactics, he reminded the press that the concept of state capture was a major theme used by the then-opposition NDC to critique the previous government. He suggested it was only fair to apply the same standard to the current administration.
“While they use that particular parameter to actually assess us and judge us, it is only proper that whilst in office in the last one year we also try and turn the skills on them and see how they have performed under that particular parameter,” he said.
The Minority is demanding clarity from the government on the future operator of the Damang mine and a full investigation into the alleged conflict of interest and concentration of power in the mining sector.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com