The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has revealed that former minister of state at the finance ministry, Charles Adu Boahen did nothing wrong in connection with corruption allegations leveled against him in an investigative documentary by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
In November 2022, Tiger Eye PI investigations into influence peddling led to the removal of the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.
According to Tiger Eye PI investigations, Mr. Adu Boahen told a supposed investor that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia could be paid $200,000 as an appearance fee for investors.
Mr. Adu Boahan also allegedly told the supposed investor that he should promise the Vice President to employ some of his relatives to enable his investment to kick off early.
In response, the Vice President disassociated himself from the comment and asked for the dismissal of Mr. Adu Boahen.
Subsequently, President Akufo-Addo sacked the minister and directed the OSP to investigate the allegations.
After almost a year of investigations, the Special Prosecutor in its report released on Monday, October 30, 2023, mentioned that “Mr. Adu Boahen engaged in trading in influence or influence peddling by employing his political office and close personal ties to the President and the Vice President to obtain favours of an actual cash gift and a prospective percentage cut of the proposed investment by the supposed sheikh. This is so notwithstanding the fact that the proposed investment was a prop and could not have actualized since there were in fact no actual investors”.
The Special Prosecutor emphasized that, “Mr. Adu Boahen stood to make a substantial personal gain had it been an actual investment proposal. It is no thanks to Mr. Adu Boahen that the investment proposal was never actually intended”.
“Mr. Adu Boahen certainly did not know that the whole enterprise was like a motion picture prop. He thought it was an actual investment proposal. Indeed, Mr. Adu Boahen admitted that he believed he was dealing with a genuine wealthy sheikh who had the advertised wherewithal to make good on the proposed investment”, the OSP said.
On actions taken against Charles Adu Boahen, the Special Prosecutor noted that though the conduct of Mr. Adu Boahen amounts to trading in influence or influence peddling, which is closely associated with corruption, there is no actual criminal prohibition of his acts in respect of which the OSP has a mandate to further act.
“On that reckoning, the Special Prosecutor directs the closure, at this time, of the investigation in respect of allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences involving Charles Adu Boahen contained in the investigative documentary titled “Galamsey Economy” published by Tiger Eye P.I.
However, the OSP disclosed that the investigation may be re-opened should the circumstances and further facts so dictate.
