Moses Asaga, the former Upper East Region member of parliament for Nabdam, has denied any wrongdoing in relation to his purchase of a Dubai property.
Asaga and Iusah Fuseini were among the former Mahama government appointees included in a study by the UK-based think tank, the Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which claimed they had purchased millions of dollars’ worth of real estate in Dubai while in government.
Dubai’s reputation for financial opacity and its appeal to funds from questionable sources were highlighted in the OCCRP report, “How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate,” which was released on May 14, 2024.
In an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, Asaga responded to the story by calling the accusations political ploys. According to him, he had legally bought a $133,000 house in Dubai. Asaga defended his acquisition by pointing to his lengthy tenure at organizations such as Ecobank and GNPC, as well as his prior positions as Minister for Employment and Deputy Minister of Finance.
Asaga cited Ghana’s comparable real estate prices to refute the accusations of misconduct. He pointed out that upscale homes in neighborhoods like Trasacco cost between $1 million and $5 million, while brand-new apartments in Ghana sell for over $200,000.
Asaga defended his $133,000 real estate purchase in Dubai, asking why such a small sum should be considered crooked or illegal. He questioned detractors by posing the question of whether the OCCRP has examined politicians, bankers, CEOs of GNPC, COCOBOD, BOST, and other professionals who own pricey properties in Trasacco with the same level of scrutiny.
Asaga maintained that his investment in a $133,000 property was acceptable and within his means, citing his long career that included posts at Ecobank, GNPC, and several cabinet positions. He denounced the accusations against him as being politically driven and highlighted that his acquisition was legal.
