Ghana@ 50 Probe Resumes Today

The presidential Commission probing the activities of Ghana@ 50 Secretariat resumes sittings today at the Old Parliament House after a one week break. Sittings of the Commission started in a rather abysmal note below expectations with recording of proceedings in long-hand, little interest as the public gallery at the hearing venue had been conspicuously empty and above all perceived noncommitment of some officials of Regional Coordinating Councils. Realising that public interest was waning in the probe, the commission chairman, Justice Isaac Duose, announced that it was taking a week�s break to reconvene, after which the members would have evaluated their performances since it started work two weeks ago. The turn-out of the Commission�s hearing has so far been a far cry from previous Commissions and Committees of Inquiry such as those on Stadium disaster, the National Reconciliation and Cocaine probe. There have been cacophonous allegations in the media, of alleged malfeasance and misapplication of public funds during the year-long celebration of Ghana@ 50 celebrations, giving President Atta Mills some renewed vigour to set up the three-member Commission to probe the celebration. Even before the Commission was set up, officials of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) spread the word to Ghanaians that Ghana@ 50 celebrations was replete with corruption and misapplication of the tax payer�s money worthy of investigation. Regrettably though, no allegations or complaints of financial impropriety were officially lodged at the Commission before hearings commenced, following a series of publications requesting members of the general public to bring evidence of malfeasance. So far, only three banks and three regional coordinating councils have appeared before the Commission on subpoenas to assist the Commission in probing their involvement in Ghana@ 50 activities. They are the Prudential Bank, Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), National Investment Bank; and Central, Ashanti and Eastern Regional Coordinating Councils. The Commission, which has the powers of a High Court, is made up of Mr. Justice Isaac Duose of the Court of Appeal as Chairman, former Auditor-General, Mr. Osei Tutu Prempeh, and Mrs. Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong, a legal practitioner, as members and was established by President John Atta Mills on June 1, 2009 under Article 278 clause 1 (a) of the 1992 constitution. It also has Mrs. Barbara Tetteh-Charway and Mrs. Evelyn Keelson as Counsel/Secretaries. As its terms of reference, the Commission is to inquire into and report within three months, allegations of improper use of public or any other funds; inquire into the use by the Secretariat of any property, movable and immovable. The Commission is also to inquire into any other matter which appears to be accidental to or reasonably related to Ghana@ 50 celebrations, which in the opinion of the Commission ought to be enquired into; and to make recommendations in respect of its own findings of fact.