No government can completely protect itself against scandals, but how they are handled and who is involved when they do decide how much harm is done to the government.

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There have been a number of incidents involving Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, the president's cousin, in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which is led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

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According to the most recent "scandal" being reported by a member of parliament for the opposition National Democratic Congress, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Gabby was trying to get the government to pay GH187 million for a contract that the NPP had previously opposed and that the current administration changed when it took office.

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To support the authority he holds, Gabby, who recently declared that he was not a politician despite being closely associated with the NPP, has been given the title of Prime Minister of Ghana.

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He was referred to by Ablakwa as the grand master of the government in his most recent book, the Kitchen Scandal.

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Below are some scandals in which Gabby or his interests have been cited:

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The Agyapa Royalties deal

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In 2020, the Ghanaian government proposed a plan to raise funds by offering shares of a company called Agyapa Royalties Limited on the London Stock Exchange.

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However, this proposal faced severe backlash from civil society groups and the opposition, who accused it of being a secretive and corrupt deal, benefiting politicians at the expense of the nation.

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In a subsequent development, veteran journalist Kweku Baako confirmed that Gabby's firm had served as transaction advisors to the government in this unsuccessful deal. He further explained that a UK-based law firm acted as the main advisors for the deal, with Africa Legal Associates working on behalf of that firm.

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“It is not true that Gabby’s firm got US$2 million from the deal. It is not true that his firm is a beneficiary of US$2 million. It’s not even up to US$105,000. It is the main transaction advisor that paid Gabby. It is about US$103,000. It is not US$2 million”.

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The role of Osafo-Maafo's son and Gabby Otchere-Darko has been one of the most significant issues to arise from the controversy surrounding the sale.

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PDS scandal

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In 2019, the government was compelled to terminate a concessionaire agreement with Power Distribution Service Ghana Limited (PDS) due to issues with the financial guarantee provided for the deal.

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The decision came as a result of the discovery of significant breaches in PDS's obligation to provide payment securities (demand guarantees) for the transaction, which were detected during further due diligence.

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Critics have criticized the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration for not acting in the best interest of Ghana during the negotiation and signing of the power concession.

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Recent revelations indicate that certain influential individuals and associates within the current administration were allegedly planning to distribute the shares of Power Distribution Service Ghana Limited among themselves.

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Three individuals frequently mentioned in connection with these questionable dealings surrounding the PDS deal are Philip Ayensu, a board member of PDS, Edward Akufo-Addo (also known as Bumpty), who is President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's blood brother, and Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, the nephew of President Akufo-Addo.

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Ameri deal

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In 2018, Boakye Agyarko was dismissed from his position as the energy minister due to his involvement in an energy sector transaction. It happened within just a year of his appointment.

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Five years later, he has come forward to reveal that one of the reasons for his removal was the interference of Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko in the said deal, without his knowledge.

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During a widely circulated interview on Kumasi-based Asanteman FM, Boakye Agyarko alleged that Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko took it upon himself to renegotiate the Ameri deal without consulting the government's committee assigned to handle the matter.

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When Boakye confronted Gabby about his actions, he was told to remain silent because President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was already aware of the steps taken by Gabby.

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Agyarko recalled receiving a call from Gabby while he was on a flight to the US.

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Frimpong-Boateng galamsey report

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The former environment minister Prof. Frimpong-Boateng referenced Gabby in a report that was leaked, claiming that Gabby's legal services to a galamsey company had interfered with his work.

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Since then, Gabby has filed a defamation lawsuit, claiming that some of the professor's assertions were false and had damaged his reputation.

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