NPP HOT as parliament to probe COVID funds, Agyapa, and PDS scandals
Ghana’s Parliament is gearing up for a very heated and action-packed second meeting as the Majority Caucus, led by Mahama Ayariga, says it will go after corruption and bring accountability back to public spending.
In what he described as a bold and unapologetic campaign to restore trust in governance, the majority leader told Parliament that they would launch full investigations into major financial scandals that have rocked the country in recent years.

These include:
The COVID-19 expenditure under the previous government
The controversial Agyapa Royalties deal
The $190 million PDS (Power Distribution Services) scandal
“No More Impunity”—Ayariga Warns
Standing firmly in the House, Mr. Ayariga didn’t mince words.
“There must be consequences for brazen plunder of public resources,” he said.
He warned that the biggest threat to Ghana’s democracy today is impunity—the idea that people can steal state funds and walk free without punishment.
“The gravest danger to our democracy is impunity,” Ayariga declared. “It is time to say enough is enough. This House will not be a rubber stamp. We are here to defend the people’s money.”
COVID-19 Spending Under the Spotlight
One of the key areas Parliament will look into is how billions of cedis were spent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ayariga-led Majority Caucus believes that a lot of money was misused, with questionable contracts, inflated prices, and poor accountability.
Some reports have already shown irregularities in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), food distribution during lockdowns, and even the management of COVID-19 relief funds. The Majority believes some people enriched themselves during the crisis, while ordinary Ghanaians were suffering.
“We cannot allow a global pandemic to be used as an opportunity for looting,” Ayariga said.
Agyapa Royalties Deal – What Happened to Ghana’s Gold?
The Agyapa Royalties deal is another matter coming back into the spotlight.
Under the deal, Ghana was expected to mortgage future gold royalties in exchange for a lump sum through a company listed in a tax haven. The deal was heavily criticised by civil society groups, the opposition, and even some members of the then-government.
Many argued that it was not transparent, had conflicts of interest, and did not offer value for money.
Now, Mahama Ayariga says Parliament will investigate who benefited from the Agyapa deal and whether the country’s gold royalties were sold off cheaply or misused.
“We will demand answers. Ghana’s natural resources belong to the people, not a few connected individuals,” he stated.
PDS Scandal: $190 Million Wasted?
The Power Distribution Services (PDS) scandal is also back in the news. The deal, meant to help reform and improve electricity delivery in Ghana, was suspended and later cancelled after allegations of fraud and lack of due diligence.
The country lost about $190 million from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact II because of the failed deal.
“This is money we could have used to build hospitals, schools, and roads,” Ayariga lamented. “We want to know who was responsible and whether the right procedures were followed.”
Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL)—Parliament Wants Updates
In addition to launching these investigations, Parliament will also demand regular updates on the progress of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL)—the national effort to retrieve stolen state assets and funds.
The operation, which was launched earlier this year, is reportedly looking into over $20 billion in financial crimes committed between 2017 and 2024. The public has been eager to know the progress, but little information has been released so far.
Ayariga stressed that Parliament is determined to follow up.
“We cannot allow ORAL to become just another slogan. We want results. There should be transparency. We’ll want to see money recovered and the guilty prosecuted.”
No More Sole-Sourced Contracts
Another major concern Ayariga raised was the rampant use of sole sourcing in public procurement during the previous administration.
He explained that many of the financial irregularities occurred because contracts were awarded without competition, leading to inflated prices, poor-quality work, and shady deals.
“We will thoroughly examine how contracts were awarded. Sole sourcing became the norm, and that allowed corruption to flourish,” he said.
He called for a return to open and competitive bidding in public procurement, saying it would save the country money and reduce corruption.
Holding the Special Prosecutor Accountable
Interestingly, the Majority Caucus is not stopping at past governments. Ayariga also revealed that they would hold the current special prosecutor accountable as well.
He explained that while the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has a mandate to fight corruption, Parliament must ensure it is working effectively and not being used for political purposes.
“We will invite the Special Prosecutor to appear before Parliament to account for his performance. This office must produce results, not just headlines.”
Adopting U.S.-Style Committee Hearings
In a surprising but bold move, Ayariga announced that Ghana’s Parliament will begin to adopt U.S.-style congressional hearings, where committees will summon individuals, grill them publicly, and get to the bottom of scandals.
He believes this will help boost transparency and send a strong signal to both public officials and private contractors that no one is above the law.
“This House will not stand idle while public funds are looted with impunity. We will expose corruption, name and shame those involved, and recover every pesewa.”
Not About Revenge – About Justice
Mr. Ayariga was quick to clarify that this is not a political witch-hunt. He said the effort is not meant to target anyone just because of their party affiliation, but to ensure that justice is done and public funds are protected.
“This is not about revenge. This is about restoring integrity and justice to public finance management,” he noted.
“We owe it to the Ghanaian people to protect their taxes, their gold, their resources. If we don’t act now, impunity will destroy our democracy.”