'Expatriates' charged $100k to sit with Akufo-Addo - Muntaka

Expatriates who work in Ghana were recently charged $100, 000 to sit on the same table with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Member of Parliament for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak has revealed in Parliament.

According to Hon. Mubarak, the Trade Minister sold access to the president at US$ 100,000 during the Ghana Business Expatriates Awards held on December 8 at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra.

The Minority Chief whip provided a document signed by the deputy Minister for Trade and Industry Carlos Ahenkora dated 23rd October 2017, demanding Business executives who would want to sit in a round table with the president and have exclusive access to pay US$ 100,000

The Asawase MP argued that the act is inappropriate since fees and charges is only approved by Parliament.

Hon. Muntaka made the comments during the debate on the 2018 budget estimate for the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

This controversy comes after the two Deputy Chiefs of Staff at the Presidency were recently accused by the controversial musician A Plus for charging monies before granting audience to the President.

An investigation by the Police CID and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) recently exonerated the two – Asenso Boakye and Abu Jinapor – describing the allegations as baseless.

Twenty-four expatriate businesses operating in the country were honoured at the first Ghana Expatriate Business Awards 2017, for their outstanding performance over the years, with two other special awards being conferred on two outstanding individuals.

The Chairman of Interplast, Mr Saied Fakhry, was crowned the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Man Expatriate of the Year.

Mr Fakhry, who is also the Chairman of Dream Reality and Inesfly, was decorated by President Akufo-Addo at the first-ever Ghana Expatriate Business Awards 2017 in Accra.