$15b Chinese loan deal didn’t come to parliament – MP

Bolgatanga Central MP Isaac Adongo has indicated that the Finance Committee of Parliament was not briefed on the details of the US$15billion that the Chinese government has committed to Ghana to execute the One-District-One-Factory project.

According to him, the committee was not informed of the transaction because government said the loan was contracted by the private sector with .

He, however, accused the government of hiding under the cover of the loan not being a government one to conceal the details from parliament.

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Sunday June 25 revealed the Chinese government had committed a sum of US$15billion to help developmental projects in Ghana, shortly after his arrival from a working visit to China.




He explained that an additional US$4billion was expected next month aside from the US$2billion in support of government’s One-District-One-Factory project announced on Wednesday.

Dr Bawumia indicated that Ghana would leverage on its resources in the partnership with the Chinese government with the funds expected to be used to boost the economy. He underscored that the China Exim Bank and other partners were committed to supporting the country.

He assured that the assistance from the Chinese government would not compromise the fight against galamsey as the Chinese government does not support galamsey and has cautioned its citizens resident in Ghana to be law-abiding.

But speaking on this development in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Monday June 26, Mr Adongo said: “The devil is in the detail and so they are trying to hide it from parliament. They claimed that this loan was not for government so that we cannot scrutinise the detail and bring it out to Ghanaians.

“As we speak parliament doesn’t know the details and so we expect them to make the Memorandum of Understanding available to us.”

Source: AccraFM.com/100.5FM