Mahama Must Come Clean On $3bn Loan!

The Public Action against Corruption and Abuse (P.A.A.C.A.) is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to, as a matter of urgency, come clean on Ghana�s full exposure with regard to the $3 billion loan being sourced from China. The P.A.A.C.A. is calling on the President to state exactly how much has been paid to the Chinese, whilst we wait for the three billion to materialize, and also the full financial value of the oil proceeds being held in escrow, because of the yet to materialize loan from China. In a press statement over the weekend titled �PRESIDENT MAHAMA MUST ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THE $3 BILLION CHINESE LOAN�, the P.A.A.C.A noted that the $3 billion Chinese loan from the China Development Bank (CDB), which attracted many discussions among civil society organizations, including IMANI Ghana and the Government of Ghana in the year 2011, has become an albatross around the neck of President Mahama, after defying advice not to pursue the Chinese loan. According to a Daily Graphic report of Friday, January, 10, 2014, President John Mahama is mounting pressure on the Chinese Government to expedite the process for the release of the loan to support the projects in Ghana. According to the President, only one fifth of the $3 billion Chinese loan, amounting to $600 million, has been paid to the Ghana Government over the past three years. The P.A.A.C.A. stated that what was worrying and heartbreaking is that Ghana is currently paying commitment fees on the whole $3 billion loan, meanwhile, we have not received the full loan. The P.A.A.C.A. has called on President Mahama and his government to tell Ghanaians how much we have paid to the Chinese Development Bank as commitment fees so far. �When did we begin the payments, and what has been the amount for monthly payments? What was the collateral used to acquire the $3 billion loan, and for which period is the collateral to be held by the CBD? What are the challenges confronting the release of the #3 billion loan? The statement, signed by Joseph Otoo, as Secretary, noted that the NDC government has claimed that under President Mahama Ghana, it was able to save $279 million from oil revenue during the first half of 2013. �If this statement is correct, why then should Ghana obtain such an expensive loan to the detriment of the ordinary Ghanaian?� the statement questioned. �Ever since the NDC government took over the affairs of this country, in the year 2009, it has engaged in what can only be described as very questionable financial dealings. It paid huge amounts of monies out in dubious judgment debts, some to party cronies, the infamous GYEEDA affair, and many others,� the P.A.A.C.A stated. �P.A.A.C.A is worried about the manner in which the Mahama-led government is managing the economy of this country,� the group said. They also took the opportunity to invite the general public to take part in the upcoming demonstration on the sale of Merchant Bank to Equity Fund, Fortiz, which would take place on Thursday, January 16, at 7:00 a.m. near Obra Spot in Accra.