PRESIDENT JOHN Evans Atta Mills in his quest to fight corruption has set up a three member Presidential Commission of Inquiry to delve into the activities of Ghana at Fifty celebrations. According to the President, the matters relating to Ghana at Fifty has become public concern which needs to be thoroughly investigated.
This directive came in the wake of efforts being made by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to quiz Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, the former chief of Staff and Presidential Affairs, who incidentally was in charge of Ghana at Fifty celebrations.
Hon. Mahama Ayariga, the Presidential Spokesperson, announced this on behalf of the President and named members of the Commission as Justice Isaac Douse, Court of Appeal judge, who is to serve as the chairman, Mr. O.T. Prempreh, a former Auditor-General and Ms. Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong, a legal practitioner.
Hon. Ayariga, who was flanked by Mr. Alex Segbefia, deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, deputy Minister of Information and Mr. James Agyenim-Boateng also deputy Information Minister stated that the Commission was to inquire into and report on allegations of improper use of public and of any other funds.
He said the Commission is to inquire into the use by the Secretariat of any property, movable and unmovable, in addition to inquire into any other matter which appears to the Commission to be incidental to or reasonably related to Ghana at Fifty celebrations, which in the opinion of the commission ought to be enquired into and also to make recommendations in respect of the findings of fact by the Commission.
Hon. Ayariga, who stated among other things that this latest move would not interfere with the actions of the BNI, said individuals to appear before the Commission would be entitled to a lawyer.
"A person whose conduct is the subject of inquiry by the Commission or who is in anyway implicated, concerned in, or has a legitimate interest in a matter under investigation by the Commission is entitled to be represented by a lawyer," he said.
According to him, any other person who considers it desirable, that person should be represented by a lawyer or any other expert that may be allowed by the Commission, to be represented by a lawyer or that other expert.
He was, however, not able to tell the duration that the commission would end its work.
According to him, the nagging issues of Ghana at 50 celebrations started in 2007 to the extent that the former Chief of Staff, Mr. Mpiani, failed to account to parliament when he was called upon.
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