NDC ready to scan all NPP executives for PDS, COVID cash, wanton sole-sourcing and more

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, has sent a strong signal to all public officials and former appointees of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, stating that a new era of accountability has begun.

Delivering a powerful statement on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, as Parliament resumed its second meeting for the first session of the 9th Parliament, Hon. Ayariga made it clear that Parliament would no longer sit idle while billions of Ghana cedis were misused, stolen, or wasted under the leadership of former President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

According to him, Ghana’s democracy is at risk if public officials who mismanage or steal state funds are not punished.

“The greatest threat to our democracy is impunity. If Parliament fails to act, we risk betraying the trust of the people,” Ayariga boldly declared on the floor.

Full-Scale Investigations into Akufo-Addo Government Scandals

The Majority Leader outlined a long list of financial scandals and shady contracts that Parliament intends to investigate thoroughly. Among the top issues is the much-talked-about COVID-19 funds.

He said that despite the huge sums Ghana received from loans and donor support to fight the pandemic, there is still no proper account of how the money was spent. Some funds were allegedly misused or diverted, even while hospitals lacked PPEs and many citizens struggled to access vaccines and basic care.

“We will get to the bottom of how COVID-19 funds were spent. We will expose those who used a deadly pandemic to enrich themselves,” Ayariga promised.

Agyapa Royalties and PDS Deal to Face Scrutiny Again

The Agyapa Royalties Agreement, which generated huge controversy during the Akufo-Addo administration, will also come back under the spotlight. Ayariga described the deal as one of the most reckless attempts to mortgage Ghana’s mineral resources for the benefit of a few politically connected individuals.

He also mentioned the Power Distribution Services (PDS) deal, which was terminated over allegations of fraud. Ghana lost out on $190 million from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) because of this failed agreement.

“That PDS scandal was not just about incompetence; it was a disgraceful case of people putting their selfish interests above the country,” he said.

Sole-Sourcing and Corruption in Government Contracts

Hon. Ayariga revealed that Parliament would take a critical look at how many government contracts under the NPP were awarded through sole-sourcing—a method that allowed certain companies to win contracts without any competitive bidding process.

He accused former officials of abusing this system to give juicy contracts to party financiers and cronies.

“This is not just mismanagement. It is a criminal enterprise that benefited a few, while the majority of Ghanaians suffered under poor services and unfinished projects,” he emphasized.

$20 Billion Loot Under Review—Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) to Testify

The Majority Leader also gave an update on the government’s “Operation Recover All Loot” (ORAL) initiative. He said the task force is currently reviewing 36 major cases, including a $702.2 million land fraud case, with total suspected losses exceeding $20 billion.

Parliament, he said, will soon summon the leadership of ORAL to provide updates on their efforts to retrieve stolen public funds.

“Ghanaians have the right to know how far these recovery efforts have gone. The people must see that justice is being done,” Ayariga said.

Bank of Ghana Headquarters: From $81.8 Million to $250 Million

Another shocking case highlighted by Ayariga was the construction of the new Bank of Ghana headquarters, which has sparked public outrage. Originally budgeted at $81.8 million, the cost has reportedly ballooned to a staggering $250 million.

“Can you imagine that $11.1 million has been spent just on furniture, and yet the building is not even safe to use?” Ayariga said with disbelief.

He called the Bank of Ghana’s actions “reckless” and promised that Parliament would not allow such misuse of funds to go unpunished.

We Will Not Ignore the People’s Voices – Ayariga Assures Protesters

Ayariga also gave his full support to Ghanaians who have taken to the streets to protest against corruption and poor governance. He said Parliament owes it to these citizens to act boldly and ensure that their voices lead to real change.

“The hardworking citizens who protested against mismanagement deserve answers. Their sacrifice must not be in vain,” he said.

Plans for Reform: Senate-Style Hearings and Regular Accountability Sessions

In a bid to reset Ghana’s governance systems, Hon. Ayariga announced that Parliament will introduce regular appearances by the Minister for Justice and the Attorney-General. He also promised that the performance of the Office of the Special Prosecutor will be closely monitored to ensure that it delivers real results—not just press releases.

More importantly, Ayariga revealed that Ghana’s Parliament is considering U.S.-style Senate hearings, where witnesses will be publicly grilled, and corruption cases exposed in full view of the public.

“We need to adopt a tougher style. These Senate-style hearings will help us expose the deep roots of corruption and propose serious reforms,” he explained.

Conclusion: A New Dawn for Accountability in Ghana

In all, Hon. Mahama Ayariga’s address marked a turning point in the fight against corruption in Ghana. His call for full investigations into scandals from the Akufo-Addo era, including COVID-19 funds, Agyapa Royalties, PDS, and the Bank of Ghana project, is seen by many as a bold step.

For a country that has struggled with transparency and enforcement of anti-corruption laws, the coming weeks and months will be critical. Ghanaians will be watching closely to see whether these investigations will truly lead to justice and recovery of stolen wealth—or become just another round of political talk.

As Ayariga himself declared:

“We are resetting Ghana’s governance systems — and doing so with rigor.”