Veep inaugurates 3-member commission of inquiry into
Ghana@50 celebrations
Accra, June 17, Ghanadot/GNA
– Vice President John Mahama on Wednesday inaugurated a
three-member commission of inquiry into the Ghana @50
celebrations, and charged members to executive the 90-day
job to meet the “highest professional and ethical
standards”.
Inaugurating the commission at the Castle, Osu, Vice
President Mahama demanded “an objective, fair and just
enquiry that establishes the cold hard facts of all
transactions and activities related to the 50th anniversary
celebration”.
The creation of the commission by President J.E.A. Mills on
June 4, 2009, in pursuant to Article 278 (1) of the
constitution, was in response to public furore over
perceived misapplication of public funds in the celebration
of the nation’s golden jubilee.
Under the chairmanship of Mr Justice Isaac Douse, an Appeals
Court Judge, with Mr O.T. Prempeh, a former Auditor-General
and Madam Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, a Legal Practitioner,
as members, the commission would inquire into allegations of
improper use of public and other funds for the celebration.
It would also inquire into the use by the Ghana@50
secretariat of any property, movable or otherwise, and other
matters which appears to it to be incidental to or
reasonably related to the celebrations.
Vice President Mahama defended the setting-up of the
commission as important because it was “in the general
public interest”.
He said the action “was in response to calls by Ghanaians
for probity and accountability in public financial
management”, noting that its work could help set benchmarks
that might become part of a national work ethic.
Vice President Mahama said with the credibility, competence
and track record of the commissioners, he expected them to
deliver a good job without ill-will to any person involved
in the celebration.
“With your credibility, competence and track record, I am
confident that the government and the good people of Ghana
will be able to rely on your professional work which will go
a long way to enhance our efforts in creating a better Ghana
where good governance and accountability by public officers
will become part and parcel of the national work culture”,
he added.
The Chairman, Mr Justice Douse described the commission’s
task as “difficult” but was confident that the members would
not disappoint the nation.
He said the commission intended to do a thorough job, yet
very dispassionate in its deliberations, promising that all
persons appearing before it would have a fair hearing.
“We would do our job fairly, without fear or favour”, he
assured.
The Appeals Court Judge further assured persons who may
appear before the commission that they “would not have any
problem if the truth is on their side”, as members bore no
ill will against them.
Two State Attorneys, Mr Cecil Adadevoh and Madam Barbara
Sackey, will serve as secretaries to the commission which is
expected to submit its findings to the President within 90
days from the start of its work.
The completion of the work of the commission would bring to
closure a national uproar over how public funds were
committed to the golden jubilee celebrations in 2007.
GNA
