President Nana Akufo-Addo has dismissed Charles Adu Boahen, Ghana’s Minister of State for Finance, following allegations of improper behavior made public by a renowned investigative journalist.
Adu Boahen was dismissed after the President was informed of the allegations, the presidency claimed in a statement.
The Special Prosecutor was also given the case by the President for further investigation.
As the nation continues to struggle with its worst economic crisis in a generation, lawmakers are calling for the resignation of finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta and accusing him of corruption and economic mismanagement.
The allegations made against Adu Boahen do not appear to be related to those made against Ofori-Atta.
Artisanal mining is widespread in Ghana, the second-largest gold producer in Africa, and accounts for about one-third of the country’s output. In a recent exposé, investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas accused Boahen of taking bribes from investors in artisanal mines.
Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia said in a statement that a video showed Adu Boahen “apparently using my name, inter alia, to peddle influence and collect money from supposed investors”.
“I would like to state that if what the minister (Adu Boahen) is alleged to have said is accurately captured in the video, then his position as a minister of state is untenable. He should be dismissed summarily and investigated.”
Meanwhile, Ken Ofori-Atta, the country’s finance minister, is also under fire from members of parliament who accuse him of corruption and economic mismanagement.
On November 6, hundreds of protesters marched through Accra, the nation’s capital, demanding that President Nana Akufo-Addo step down amid an economic crisis that has driven up the price of food and fuel to all-time highs.