A devastating investigative video on some of Zimbabwe's gold smuggling and money laundering syndicates has once again included Ghana.

In the final episode of the four-part series produced by Aljazeera, undercover reporters pretending as Chinese criminals speak with Alistair Mathias, one of the major players, to assist in cleaning up their filthy money.

Mr. Alistair, referred to in the article as a Financial Architect, told the reporters masquerading as thieves that he had a history of effectively coordinating such syndicates.

He allegedly played a significant part in developing schemes for other dishonest African politicians to launder money.

Alistair mentioned Ghana as one of the countries where he has carried out similar operations in addition to declaring that he is good friends with the president of Ghana, who he also claimed formerly acted as his lawyer.

Suspected money launderer in Aljazeera's Gold Mafia: "Ghana's President is my good friend; he was my lawyer."

suspect in Aljazeera's Gold Mafia's money-laundering operation

He informed the undercover reporters, "The President of Ghana is a dear friend of mine; he was my lawyer. Mr. Mathias proceeded by claiming that he had previously been Ghana's biggest gold smuggler, earning $40,000.000 to $60,000,000 there each month.

The most significant justification for Alistair's actions in Africa, he said to the undercover journalists during the program, derives from the confidence certain questionable leaders have in him to keep their plundered resources safely tucked away.

He disclosed that in doing this, the politicians concerned relied on proxies rather than maintaining assets in their own names. Suspected money launderer in Aljazeera's Gold Mafia: "Ghana's President is my good friend; he was my lawyer."

As an illustration of how he may take huge contracts on behalf of Ghanaian politicians, inflate the cost, and then share the profits afterward, he used the example of government infrastructure.

I take part in Ghanaian bids for the construction of roads, and the purchase, and delivery of various goods, oil, and other things. There, I indirectly take care of all the politicians because it gives me the freedom to do everything else.

In the documentary, he goes into further detail;


For instance, Mathias Holdings hired me thanks to a contract the Ghanaian government gave me. I subcontracted the $100 million deal to you. My salary from the Ghanaian government is $100,000,000. I give it to you, and you claim it's $80 million, he stated to the investigative journalists who were secretly recording the conversation.

The politician in question and Alistair decide to divide the remaining $20 million of the exaggerated $100 million in this scenario.

We'll come to an agreement where they receive 15... I'll probably collect $5 million, he continued.

Everything is kept in Dubai. I will send it if they just let me know when they need it.

President Akufo-Addo has reacted to Aljazeera over these allegations in the meantime.

He claims he has no knowledge of representing Alistair Mathias or his business as a lawyer.

Mr. Mathias has also denied ever obtaining a government contract from the government of Ghana or from any other African country.