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Government Transition Committee is not a 'Kangaroo Court, Declares Chairman
Abdul Salam Sule

The Chairman of the Executive Asset Committee of the Government Transitional Team, Dr. Don Artrhur has took strong exception to the allegation that, the committee has turned to a 'Kangaroo court'. His denial follows an allegation by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana@ 50 Secretariat, Dr. Charles Wereko- Brobbey that, the Government Transitional Team is a 'Kangaroo court'.

Dr. Wereko-Brobbey's referral to the transitional committee as a Kangaroo court was because, he was unhappy with the public disclosure of the auditor's report on the Ghana@50 celebrations.

But Dr Don Arthur thought otherwise. At a Press conference in Accra, the chairman of the Executive Asset Committee said, the committee's demand for audit of Ghana@ 50 accounts was not an act of witch hunting but for probity and accountability.

He explained that, the team was a serious committee set up to see to the smooth transition of state assets from the NPP administration to President Mills's government and was without any malice and political vindictiveness.

According to Dr Arthur, the committee decided to invite the audit team as a last resort after Dr Wereko-Brobbey and Mr. Kojo Mpiani failed on many occasions failed to appear before the committee for questioning. (Ghanadot has yet to verify the above assertion.)

"Money affairs are not issues of fancy but serious matters of national importance that should be devoid any political coloration", he said.

He further explained that, when the Executive Asset Committee of the government transitional team was set up, it wanted some details on the Golden Jubilee House and Ghana @ 50 celebrations but when it first contacted Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, the former Chief of Staff and Chairman of the National Planning Committee of Ghana @ 50, he failed to appear saying, they should rather contact Dr Wereko-Brobbey. He said, when the committee contacted Dr Wereko-Brobbey, he also directed them to Mr. Mpiani.

"Because the committee did not want to be tossed about the issue at stake, we decided to seek the assistance of the Auditor General which for lack of adequate records decided to put something together for the benefit of the taxpayer", he added.

Dr. Don Arthur has therefore advised Dr. Wereko-Brobbey and Mr Kwadwo Mpiani not reduce the issue of the Ghana@ celebrations to the Kangaroo court but rather cooperate with the Government Transitional Team to promote transparency.

Ghanadot