General News of Monday, 10 September 2018

Source: classfmonline.com

Journalist petitions Special Prosecutor to probe Ofori-Atta over $2m SSNIT money

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta

A journalist and former editor of the Insight Newspaper, Livingston Pay-Charlie, has petitioned the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu to investigate Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta over funds transferred from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) into the accounts of his private company in the late 90’s.

The scandal which gained media attention in the early 2000’s involved the transfer of over $2 million to Enterprise Insurance, a company owned by Mr Ofori-Atta.

Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM on Monday, 10 September 2018, Mr Pay-Charlie, the petitioner said: “I want the Special Prosecutor to carry out investigations into the circumstances surrounding the payment of $2.244 million of pensioners funds as well as public funds into the account being held by Ken Ofori-Atta in 1999.

"This is public funds that has been dislodged inappropriately. Without any reason, the money was wired straight into an account at Enterprise Insurance Company, an affiliate company of Mr Ofori-Attah. As at now, for over 19 years after the payment, we don’t know the whereabouts of the estate development opportunity that SSNIT wants.

“...So I want the Special Prosecutor to unravel circumstances beyond this and also find out the whereabouts of that money.”