Tamale South Member of Parliament (MP) Haruna Idris has reacted to corruption allegations against him by South Africa’s leading news portal, News24.
News24’s investigative report specifically mentions a Tamale South MP who allegedly benefited from bribes worth more than US$2.5 million (R47 million).
The report examines in detail the activities of brothers Lucille and Nishani Singh, who ran the Ghana Infrastructure Company (GIC) between 2017 and 2022, and revealed that the lawmaker was the company’s “broker” in Ghana. ” has been shown to be the case.
In a rebuttal copied to Ghanaweb, Haruna Idris flatly denied intermediating GIC’s transactions in Ghana or having any involvement in the company’s operations.
He said he had not received any payments from GIC or the Singh brothers and “will not give in to cheap threats.”
He added that the accusations against him were mere propaganda aimed at tarnishing his hard-earned reputation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have not at any time personally accepted or been directed to make any illegal, illegal or immoral payments made by GIC or any of them. I have never brokered any transaction that benefited GIC or Mr. and Mrs. Singh.
“…I vehemently deny these allegations and categorically refute any implication of wrongdoing. This baseless allegation not only seeks to tarnish my reputation, but also threatens the people of Tamale South as members of Congress.” It also undermines the credibility and integrity of my office,” the congressman wrote.
He also said the “so-called investigation report” showed no evidence of any links to the South African company or its owners.
“This publication describes me as a ‘close aide to the Singh family’ responsible for brokering a deal worth GHS400 million with their company, the Ghana Infrastructure Company (“GIC”), in exchange for money. It is stated that there is. I do not take these allegations lightly, but despite thorough investigation, News24 has not been able to show that I actually received any money from the Singhs or GIC. The only means to force me to participate are fabrications and flashy stories. I am not a director or shareholder of his GIC, nor am I involved in its management.
“Although in total I am alleged to have received R47 million (R47 million), the breakdown of the alleged receipts is likely to be a fanciful version of the allegations made by News24 after a thorough investigation.” It shows the nature of Mr. Asma Dokrug, GIC Director of Ghana, various suppliers and political activities that have been attributed to me for some reason, and News 24 also has my name and the Haruna Institute. Regarding the connection, they are trying to force me to become involved on an unreasonable basis.Records show that the Haruna Institute does not operate a bank account and survives solely on donations from its members. ”
The former Minority Leader of the 8th Ghanaian Parliament said, “Finally, News24 further states that GIC paid for the construction of my house and funded several trips abroad. All these claims are conspicuously devoid of any suggestion or argument,” it added. Although there is evidence that I received these payments, this betrays the malicious intentions of the publication, which used my name to try to drive a square peg into a round hole in order to attract the attention of the portal. Thing. ”
News24’s investigative report focused on the activities of the Singh brothers, Lucille and Nishani, who ran the Ghana Infrastructure Company (GIC) from 2017 to 2022.
Part of the report, seen by Ghanaweb, provides a breakdown of how various amounts were allegedly transferred to the lawmaker through others, in some cases through financial support for projects.
The money was paid in lieu of profit sharing from subcontracts for the construction of Buipe Hospital and Haruna’s private residence.
Payments by Singh and GIC to Haruna Iddrisu
Between 2015 and 2020, Nishani Singh used several methods to pay at least R47 million directly to Mr Idris or to others at his request or for his benefit.
The majority of the funds were paid directly from GIC’s accounts to various suppliers or to Ghana’s GIC director, Asma Dokrug.
This does not include amounts paid for several overseas trips to London and at least one overseas trip to Indonesia and South Africa.
Payment breakdown:
• R31.8 million: payments to Dokrug and donations to political campaigns.
• R1.6m: To Might Ghana Ltd. The company is owned by Ibrahim Abdul Jalil, who is also the patron of Idris’ non-profit Haruna Institute.
• R898,808: Direct to Jalil.
・R7.3m: For construction of Idris’s house.
• R4.4m: Profit sharing from the subcontract for the construction of Buipe Hospital.
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