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The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project has published a report that featured some government officials of the erstwhile John Mahama administration allegedly owning properties in oil-rich Dubai. The report has gained widespread traction, particularly from members of the ruling New Patriotic Party, who are taking advantage of the political season to amplify the allegations in the report.
Although the report was published on May 14, 2024, it took a little over a month for it to gain prominence in local media reports and social media conversations.
Given the traction this report has generated, DUBAWA has considered it expedient to provide a detailed explanation of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, the report’s content, and the responses of those named in the report.
About OCCRP
OCCRP’s publication about real estate ownership in Dubai is not its first project. Since 2008, it has published nearly 100 reports on crime and corruption.
One of their reports, “The Great Gambia Heist,” published in March 2019, featured former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh. The report alleges that he and his associates had plundered the West African country of nearly US$1 billion of timber resources and public funds. Other reports expose money laundering schemes in Azerbaijan, Moldovan, and Russia. These reports are usually done in collaboration with other journalists.
Overview of the report
The report, titled ‘How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate,’ provides insight into alleged properties owned by certain individuals, including convicted criminals, fugitives, and politically exposed persons, located in Dubai.
According to the report, “Dubai’s high-rises and villas have served as a haven for some of the world’s most wanted criminals, due in part to the secrecy its real estate sector affords.”
The report also referenced how owning properties in Dubai was an avenue “for those with ill-gotten cash to spend”.
Although the report did not accuse the alleged property owners of criminality, it did say that the publication was made in the public interest.
“Reporters found dozens of other people who owned property in Dubai who we felt were in the public interest to report on, including alleged criminals, fugitives, political figures, and sanctioned individuals,” the publication reads.
Ghana in the Report
Ghana was among 14 African countries whose citizens were mentioned in the report. Those from Ghana who were alleged to have properties in their name in Dubai were identified as politically linked. These persons are former Nabdam MP Moses Aduko Asaga, former EC Finance Director Dr Joseph Asamoah, former Tamale Central MP Inusah Fuseini, and Anthony Benin, a former justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
The report says these persons have properties worth millions of dollars in Dubai.
According to the report, Mr Asamoah has alluded to owning properties in Dubai but has yet to pay for them. He is linked to two properties with a total value of $623,600.
“Asamoah confirmed he was registered as the co-owner of two Dubai properties but said he had not paid for them and that they were acquired by another person,” the report said.
Justice Benin is also linked to two properties valued at $412,300.
Moses Asaga, a former lawmaker and former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority, is also linked to a property valued at $133,100. Whilst he has not explicitly admitted to acquiring the property, the former Nabdam MP has said that his three decades of active public and private services justify his ability to make such financial investments.
“So, they think for my 30-year working life, I should not have an investment of that paltry amount. Before politics, I worked with Ecobank and GNPC as Deputy Minister of Finance, Minister for Employment, and CEO of NPA. I could not afford an investment of $133,000 for a student one-bedroom apartment. What is the crime and corruption involved in this?” The leading online news portal, citinewsroom.com, quotes him.
Inusah Fuseini, who once served as the Minister for Land and Natural Resources during the erstwhile John Mahama administration, is linked to 20 properties worth about $7.2 million. According to a publication by Ghanaweb.com, he has denied these allegations.
The report did not state which year each official bought the properties. While Ghana’s asset declaration regime allows public officers to declare their assets before and after they take office, it does not allow for public scrutiny of the assets so declared.
Misinformation
Amidst the social media commentary, DUBAWA has spotted posts suggesting that former President, John Mahama was cited in the OCCRP report. These social media posts claim that the former president facilitated Inusah Fuseini’s alleged acquisition of his properties in Dubai.
However, this is inaccurate, as John Mahama’s name was absent from the report. Aside from that, the report did not make criminal allegations against persons in it. The OCCRP report only explained that individuals, some of whom are wanted criminals, take advantage of Dubai’s laws, which protect property owners.
“…but the key was a set of policies that enticed foreigners from around the globe, including laws that made it easy for them to purchase real estate,” the report reads.
“Dubai’s high-rises and villas have served as a safe haven for some of the world’s most wanted criminals, due in part to the secrecy its real estate sector affords,” it continues.
