Mahama Debunks Truce with Akufo Addo over Brother’s Bauxite Company

The office of former President John Dramani Mahama has issued a statement debunking claims that he was pleading with President Akufo-Addo to return his brother’s bauxite concession as a pre-condition for parleying. 

The claims had been made by the pro-government newspaper, the Daily Guide.

However, in a statement signed on Thursday, April 8, 2021, by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the communications spokesperson of Mr. Mahama, he explained that the 2020 NDC flagbearer has never made such a demand.

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said the reports are “nothing but a figment of the imagination” of those pushing the narrative.

In the report, the Daily Guide claimed one of the reasons why Mr. Mahama does not ‘gel’ with President Akufo-Addo and his administration is because of the bauxite concession that the NPP government took from Ibrahim Mahama in 2017.

But Ofosu Kwakye said, the issue with the bauxite concession was adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction and that Mr. Mahama and his brother, Ibrahim Mahama have accepted the judgement even though they disagreed with it.

The statement queried: “What form of ‘gel’ does the government want with former President Mahama, and for which reason he will even consider making any demands?”

The multi-billion long lease bauxite concession was granted to Exton Cubic in 2016, shortly before John Mahama was voted out of the Presidency. 

Although the company tried to start operations, it was stopped by both the district and regional authorities, compelling Exton Cubic to go to court to challenge the decision.

The court eventually ruled against Ibrahim Mahama’s Exton Cubic, forcing him to lose the concession.

According to Mr. Mahama’s press statement, even though many things have gone against hi, he will “continue to have respect for the constitutional structures and has at no time made any request, nor suggested any conditions, let alone ask for the return of bauxite concessions by any person or entity as a precondition for cooperation.”