Economist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr George Domfeh, has raised concerns over allegations that money was collected from 90 people under promises of securing visas to Canada and the United States, with only five reportedly obtaining visas.
Dr Domfeh questioned the circumstances surrounding the alleged arrangement, drawing parallels with what he described as a previous controversy involving Ghana’s participation in the FIFA World Cup.
The economist has questioned whether the alleged visa arrangement represented another instance of misconduct that could undermine Ghana’s national interests.
“You collected money from 90 people and promised visas to Canada and the US, but only five got visas?” he asked.
He further drew a comparison between the alleged incident and the controversy he described as the “coconut scandal”, suggesting that the latest allegations could represent another troubling episode if substantiated.
Beyond raising questions about the alleged visa arrangement, Dr Domfeh accused unnamed individuals of attempting to use the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative to divert attention from their own alleged actions.
“They have changed tactics; they are now using ORAL to cover up their actions,” he stated.
ORAL is a government-backed initiative associated with efforts to gather information on suspected corruption and the recovery of alleged proceeds of wrongdoing.
Dr Domfeh’s comments suggest his concern that the initiative could become entangled in political disputes rather than serve its intended accountability objectives.
However, he did not identify the individuals he was referring to or provide further details about the alleged collection of money, the circumstances surrounding the visa applications or the specific evidence supporting his claims.
The economist described the alleged conduct as a threat to the country’s interests, declaring that those responsible, if the allegations were proven, would be among the individuals undermining the nation.
“If proven, these are the real nation wreckers!” he said.
The claims raise questions about the circumstances under which money was allegedly collected from the 90 individuals, the nature of the promises made to them and why only five reportedly secured visas.
The allegations made by Dr Domfeh have not been independently verified based on the information available in his statement. He did not name the people allegedly involved, and no supporting documents or official findings were provided in the text.
Dr Domfeh’s intervention adds to the debate over accountability and the use of anti-corruption initiatives, particularly his warning against what he perceives as attempts to use ORAL to deflect attention from alleged misconduct.
By 1960news.com
