By Adnan Adams Mohammed
Emerging revelations from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding corrupt payments linked to Ghana’s 2015 emergency power deals have reignited calls for deep institutional scrutiny, raising fundamental questions about parliamentary oversight, due diligence, and ethical governance.
At the center of the growing probe is the 2015 AKSA Emergency Power Agreement, which was vetted by the 18-member Mines and Energy Committee of the Sixth Parliament before receiving approval on the plenary floor. Official filings from the U.S. Department of Justice allege that approximately US$46,000 in bribe payments were distributed to Ghanaian parliamentarians in connection with the deal’s approval.
The revelation has prompted civil society and policy analysts to demand full transparency regarding how the agreement was reviewed and who ultimately benefited from the unlawful disbursements.
Accountability Questions Surface
The core of the issue rests on legislative oversight and the integrity of committee-level due diligence before major energy contracts are submitted to Parliament for final approval.
“Who received the money?” asked a prominent political commentator in a statement calling for official answers based on available public disclosures. “What due diligence did the Mines and Energy Committee conduct before recommending the agreement?”
Advocates emphasize that highlighting these documents is not an assertion of guilt against any specific individual, but rather a demand for systematic accountability built on public record.
“This is not an accusation against any current or former MP,” the political commentator clarified. “It is a call for transparency based on publicly available DOJ information and official parliamentary records. Ghanaians deserve answers.”
Committee Structure Under the Lens
Official parliamentary records from 2015 reveal the composition of the Mines and Energy Committee tasked with reviewing the emergency power deal. Under the chairmanship of Hon. Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogo and Vice Chairman Hon. Mutawakilu Adam, the 18-member select committee included notable parliamentarians across both majority and minority caucuses, including Hon. Kobina Tahir Hammond (Ranking Member) and Hon. Edward M. Ennin (Deputy Ranking Member).
The full committee roster comprised:
● Hon. Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogo (Chairman)
● Hon. Mutawakilu Adam (Vice Chairman)
● Hon. Mahama Toure Naser
● Hon. Gershon K.B. Gbediame
● Hon. Salifu Ameen
● Hon. Kwadwo Emmanuel Agyekum
● Hon. Michael Coffie Boampong
● Hon. Cletus Apul Avoka
● Hon. Alhaji Muhammed-Muntaka Mubarak
● Hon. Mathias Kwame Ntow
● Hon. Kobina Tahir Hammond (Ranking Member)
● Hon. Edward M. Ennin (Deputy Ranking Member)
● Hon. Dr. Stephen Nana Ato Arthur
● Hon. Isaac Kwame Asiamah
● Hon. William Owuraku Aidoo
● Hon. Mustapha Ussif
● Hon. Benjamin Kofi Ayeh
● Hon. Joseph Cudjoe
Broader Institutional Implications
The disclosures come at a time of heightened scrutiny over energy sector procurement, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and public financial management in Ghana. Governance experts argue that foreign judicial findings such as those published by the U.S. DOJ place an obligation on local anti-corruption bodies and Parliament itself to conduct internal reviews.
As public interest in the matter intensifies, civil society organizations continue to urge state investigative bodies to collaborate with international legal authorities to establish the exact chain of custody for the alleged illicit funds and bring clarity to the 2015 approval process.
