Probe Jerry Rawlings for Collecting $2m Abacha Loot – Ghanaians

In Ghana, there has been increased calls for the country’s former president Jerry Rawlings to be investigated for corruption after he admitted to receiving $2 million from the late Nigerian dictator, Sani Abacha.

According to Modern Ghana newspaper, the former Ghanian president responsible for tackling corruption recently admitted to receiving the money from the former Nigerian head of state infamous for stealing millions of dollars from his country’s treasury.

After refusing to deny or confirm allegations that he was given $5 million, Rawling said he only got $2 million from the late dictator.

Now anti-corruption activists are calling for his probe.

Anti-corruption crusader, Vitus Azeem, is calling for further investigations to unravel the truth in the claim made by former President Jerry John Rawlings, that he received $2 million from the late Nigerian President, Sani Abacha.

Vitus Azeem told Citi News that the gesture was a corrupt act and shouldn’t be swept under the carpet.

“If it is not easy to rush to a conclusion, you will need further questioning or even an investigation to able to establish whether it was a bribe or a matter of conflict of interest or what,” Vitus Azeem added.

Mr. Azeem thus suggested that a further probe will help establish whether the acceptance of the gift constitutes a conflict of interest or bribery.

“Nigerians and Ghanaians should be asking questions. The questions Nigerians should be asking includes, was it Sani Abacha’s private money that he sent to our former president? What was the purpose of giving that money? Were they expecting any benefit for the country Nigeria in sending that money?”

He added that “on the other side, we should also be asking: what did Nigeria want from Ghana that they needed to send that money to our president. Did our president ask for any financial help from Nigeria to undertake governmental projects or for his personal purpose? Again we have to ask what Sani Abacha wants from our president or from the country. Was the money being given in expectation of some kind of favour and was it given for the benefit of our president or for the benefit of our country? Was it given in response to an SOS request to deal with state matters in Ghana?”