The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has been petitioned to investigate the involvement of Ghana’s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in the controversial Power Distribution Services (PDS) scandal.
The petition, dated Tuesday, September 3, 2024, was submitted by concerned citizens of Itiubuto, Damongo in the Savannah Region seeking to uncover the Vice President’s role in the botched agreement that led to significant financial losses for the country.
The PDS scandal erupted in October 2019 when the government terminated a concession agreement with PDS over the take-over of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) assets.
A forensic audit by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) revealed irregularities in the transaction, particularly the acceptance of an insurance guarantee instead of a bank guarantee, which was allegedly approved in a meeting chaired by Dr. Bawumia.
The petitioners argue that this decision led to the fraudulent transfer of ECG assets and caused Ghana to lose $190 million in aid from the MCC.
According to the petition, the Vice President, along with key government officials, waived critical conditions that were necessary to safeguard the country’s interests in the deal.
The petitioners demand that the OSP investigate Dr. Bawumia’s involvement and unravel the circumstances that led to the decision, which they believe directly resulted in Ghana’s financial losses. They also call for the recovery of $4.25 million allegedly taken from ECG’s accounts to fund the fabricated insurance guarantee.
The petition further outlines the need for a comprehensive investigation into all aspects of the PDS deal, emphasizing the significant impact on the country’s energy sector.
The petitioners, Itiubuto of Damongo in the Savannah Region stress that the government’s mishandling of the agreement has not only cost Ghana financially but also damaged its relationship with international partners, particularly the United States.
In their conclusion, the petitioners invoke their constitutional rights and the powers of the OSP under the Office of Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
They urge the OSP to initiate a thorough investigation to hold those responsible accountable, stating, “We humbly request the Special Prosecutor to commence investigation into the complicity or otherwise of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in the PDS scandal.”
