The Minority in Parliament have questioned the delay in the commencement of work by the presidential commission set up to investigate Ghana\u2019s poor showing at the World Cup in Brazil.<\/p>\n
Addressing a press conference on Monday, the Minority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu says the delay indicates government\u2019s lack of commitment in probing the matter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe setting up of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry certainly was meant to scuttle the attempt in Parliament to discuss the matter,\u201d he alleged.<\/p>\n
Parliament earlier rejected a private member’s motion for the setting up of a bi-partisan Parliamentary Committee to investigate the country\u2019s abysmal performance at the 2014 World Cup.<\/p>\n
The President, John Mahama later set up a three-member Commission of Inquiry headed by Appeals Court Judge, Justice Senyo Dzamefe to investigate Ghana\u2019s abysmal performance at the 2014 World cup.<\/p>\n
This was after the Sports Minister; Mahama Ayariga constituted the three-member committee to probe the Black Stars\u2019 participation in the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Mr.\u00a0Ayariga\u00a0informed Parliament that the conversion of the Ministerial Committee into a Presidential Commission which will have the powers of a High Court.<\/p>\n
He defended the conversion saying, it will compell people to give evidence during the investigations.<\/p>\n
But the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho subsequently accused the Executive of acting in bad faith by establishing the commission.<\/p>\n
Mr. Mensah Bonsu in his address to the press was of the opinion that if the commission completes its investigations and comes up with recommendations, it will be difficult for the President to implement them since \u201cany directive will be construed as interference by FIFA.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is clear that the setting up of the Commission of Inquiry at the instance of the President in the manner that it has been done would attract the sanctions of FIFA.\u201d<\/p>\n
This hindrance, he said, should have caused the President to desist from setting up the commission \u201cwith the terms of reference dwelling on the administration of football by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).\u201d<\/p>\n
Ghana was not only eliminated at the group stages of World Cup tournament but there\u00a0were player agitations over the non-payment of appearance fee which forced the government to airlift $3million cash to Brazil.<\/p>\n
The flying of the money to Brazil which became international news caused a huge outrage back home in Ghana.<\/p>\n
The alleged misconduct of some of the players also led to the dismissal of two players, Sulley Ali Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng from the Black Stars camp.<\/p>\n
These developments were widely reported by international media which dented the image of Ghana.<\/p>\n
According to the Minority leader, if Parliament had been allowed to probe the matter, its findings would have been completed by now.<\/p>\n
Citing the activities of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the Suame MP said Parliament as the gatekeeper of the public purse would have investigated the \u2018lavish\u2019 spending by officials of the GNPC in Brazil.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe GNPC has been very reluctant to account to Parliament about monies that are allocated to them\u2026they sponsored many people to Brazil and put them up in very plush hotels at the expense of the state,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
Mr. Mensah Bonsu remarked that the \u201ctrack record\u201d of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government in relation to the setting up of committees \u201cdoes not provide comfort that all matters relating to the debacle in Brazil will be unearthed.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said it is highly possible that findings of the commission could be \u201ccovered up.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the Minority leader has called for support and cooperation for the Commission to fasttrack the investigation.<\/p>\n
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By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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