Accra, Ghana (GS). The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, has dismissed his Minister of State at the Finance Ministry for misconduct. The Minister in question is Charles Kofi Adu Boahen, the son of one of the founding members of the New Patriotic Party, (NPP), the late Prof. Albert Adu Boahen.
The dismissal of the Junior Minister at the Finance Ministry is part of the fallout from an investigative video into illegal mining activities in Ghana undertaken by Anas Aremeyaw Anas, a Ghanaian investigative journalist, and his Tiger Eye Private Investigations group.
A statement issued by the Jubilee House, on Monday, November 14, 2022, said Adu Boahen’s appointment has been terminated by President Nana Akufo-Addo with immediate effect.
The statement read, “The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has terminated the appointment of the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, with immediate effect”.
The statement continued, “After being made aware of the allegations leveled against the Minister in the expose`, ‘Galamsey Economy’, the President spoke to Mr. Adu Boahen, after which he took the decision to terminate his appointment, and also to refer the matter to the Special Prosecutor for further investigations”.
In the yet-to-be-aired investigative video, Adu Boahen is alleged to have used the name of the Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to peddle influence and collect money from people posing as investors.
In the said video, Adu Boahen is alleged to have demanded US$ 200,000.00 from some people who were posing as investors as an ‘appearance fee’ to meet the Vice President, and offer positions to the siblings of the vice president in order to establish a business in Ghana.
The Vice President has meanwhile distanced himself from the statements allegedly made by Adu Boahen in the expose`.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Dr. Bawumia wrote, “My attention has been drawn to a video by Anas Aremeyaw Anas (as posted on his social media handle) showing the Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Charles Adu Boahen, apparently using my name, inter alia, to peddle influence and collect money from supposed investors. I would like to state that if what the minister is alleged to have said is accurately captured in the video, then his appointment as a minister of state is untenable. He should be dismissed summarily and investigated”.
‘I am not aware of any such meeting held by Minister Adu Boahen or a supposed “appearance fee”. My most cherished asset in life is my integrity and I will not allow anyone to use my name to engage in corrupt activities’, the Vice President posted.
On October 25, 2022, a group of about 80 NPP members of parliament held a news conference and called on President Akufo-Addo to initiate a massive shake-up at the Finance Ministry. Among the demands of the aggrieved MPs included the dismissal of Charles Adu Boahen from the Finance Ministry.
