The company was banned along with others after investigative reporter, Anas Aremeyaw Anas uncovered the smuggling of cocoa into neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire. However, according to the UK’s Sunday Times, the company is now operating again, following an intervention by a conservative cabinet minister.
Spokesperson of Vice-President Mahama, Mr John Jinapor has denied any wrong doing on the part of the Vice-President.
“We remember meeting with the British Minister in charge of African Affairs and he raised an issue
with Armajaro and their concern was that if an employee of the company is caught committing an offence, you don’t embark on a collective punishment of the entire company and this is normal,” he said.
He said all the Vice-President did was call on the affected company to petition the appropriate authorities – the Ghana Cocoa Board.
According to the Sunday Times report, a conservative cabinet minister, Andrew Mitchell intervened following donations totaling £40,000 made to his parliamentary office between August 2006 and December 2009 by Armajaro Holdings.
The firm also reportedly donated £50,000 separately to the Conservative party in 2004.
Millionaire Anthony Ward who owns Armajaro Holdings therefore appealed to Andrew Mitchell to intervene when the ban was imposed following allegations that a contractor was involved in smuggling cocoa out of Ghana.
Subsequently, the minister contacted the British High Commissioner in Accra on the issue.
Following the communication to the foreign office, an official, Henry Bellingham subsequently lobbied Vice President John Mahama on behalf of Armajaro Holdings. The ban was then lifted.
Meanwhile, documents released under the Freedom of Information Act indicated that British Foreign Office civil servants raised questions as to why the British government should intervene on behalf of Armajaro.
However, a spokesman for the Foreign Office is reported to have dismissed the allegation saying all representations made by the government in the case were entirely proper and consistent with their support for legitimate British businesses abroad.
Mr Mitchell’s office also insists there has been no wrongdoing. It said laid down ministerial procedures were followed in addressing the issue.
However one Labour MP describes Mitchell’s involvement as naïve saying there will always be accusations that, through political donations or contributions to a minister's office, influence can be sought or bought.
Source: Joy News/Ghana
