Deputy Director of IT and Elections of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko Computer, has described the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the major beneficiary of the Aksa Energy agreement signed during the first administration of President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking on TV3’s New Day, Mr Tanko Computer, who is also Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), argued that the Turkish energy company began operations in Ghana in 2017, after the NPP assumed office.
“The major beneficiaries of the Aksa deal is the NPP, and we must say it as it is,” he said.
He questioned why the NPP government did not terminate the agreement if it considered the deal detrimental to Ghana.
“Aksa Energy started operating in 2017. If the deals were very bad, why didn’t they cancel it as soon as they took over power?” he asked.
Mr Tanko Computer further cited a GHS2.5 million contribution allegedly made by Aksa Energy to Ghana’s COVID-19 response in April 2020.
He said the money was presented to the then Chief of Staff, Frema Opare, at the Jubilee House, arguing that the contribution demonstrated that the company continued to engage with and benefit from the state under the NPP administration.
He also claimed that the foundation of former First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo received significant support from Aksa Energy.
According to him, these developments contradict claims that the Aksa agreement was solely a problematic deal entered into by the NDC administration.
Tanko Computer disputes $1m payment claim
Mr Tanko Computer also challenged claims that US$1 million was paid to former Power Minister Kwabena Donkor in connection with the Aksa Energy transaction.
He argued that the US Department of Justice’s case did not establish that the alleged US$1 million was actually paid to the minister.
“Did they say ‘paid $1 million to the minister?’ Did you see that statement there?” he asked.
He questioned why public commentary had presented the matter as though the payment had been conclusively established.
Mr Tanko Computer further alleged that Ghanaian authorities under the previous NPP administration had access to information from investigations into the Aksa Energy deal but failed to prosecute individuals he believes were implicated.
He called for the matter to be addressed based on evidence and facts rather than political considerations.
The NDC official also said the Aksa Energy controversy would come under scrutiny as part of the government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative.
He expressed confidence in the ability of Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, to pursue individuals found to have breached the law, while acknowledging that any prosecution involving members of the opposition could be described by the NPP as political persecution.
“ORAL is in action. We are dealing with them, one after the other,” he said.
Mr Tanko Computer maintained that the government would rely on the judicial process to determine any cases arising from the investigations.
He also expressed confidence in Ghana’s judiciary, arguing that criticism of the courts should not be used to undermine legitimate efforts to investigate alleged wrongdoing.
The Aksa Energy agreement and allegations surrounding the transaction have recently attracted renewed public attention following legal proceedings in the United States involving former Tema Oil Refinery Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko.
