The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) went ahead to draw cheques from an account belonging to former President John Mahama’s brother, Ibrahim, despite an earlier warning to the revenue-collecting state agency to hold on with the withdrawals until certain payments had been made into it by the government, private legal practitioner Abraham Amaliba has said.

His revelations come amidst a two-week ultimatum given to Mr Mahama to pay some GHS10 million that two of his companies – MBG Limited and Holman Brothers – owe the state as duties in connection with some heavy duty equipment he cleared at the Tema port in 2015 while his brother was President.

Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, who first blew the lid on Mr Mahama, claimed the businessman issued 44 dud cheques to the GRA in connection with the payment of the duties.

Speaking on Class91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Tuesday 25 April, however, Mr Amaliba said Mr Mahama gave express warning to GRA not to withdraw the cheques since he was awaiting the payment of some monies into it by the government.

“My knowledge is that there were accounts existing and cheques were issued from that account. Now do you know that there was information from Ibrahim to GRA not to present certain cheques because government has not paid and there was no money in it? Has that come to your attention? So that’s why some of us are asking: ‘Who asked GRA, who prompted GRA to nonetheless go and present those cheques regardless of the warning given by Ibrahim to them not to proceed?’” Mr Amaliba told Moro Awudu.

“Who asked GRA nonetheless to present those cheques for the creation of that offence as issuing dud cheques because when you issue a cheque, you either tell the person he should go and cash it or you give a counter-order that: ‘Don’t go until you crosscheck with me.’”

Meanwhile, Ningo Prampram MP Sam Nartey George, who has been speaking for Mr Mahama on the issue, told Accra-based Joy FM on Tuesday that “not all cheques issued bounced”.