Probe-Phobia Grips Government...

Following the confirmation of the massive corruption at the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency, through the release of the report of the ministerial committee that probed the misuse of over GHC203 million public funds to �buy� the 2012 election, President John Dramani Mahama and his functionaries are now refusing to release reports of other probes into alleged malfeasance for fear that �the corruption tag will be deepened.� Insiders say apart from the further negative publicity the government will get from revelations from the reports, it is also feared that �its own could find themselves in trouble� when the reports are treated with the seriousness they deserve. While still waiting to hear the action the Mahama government is taking on the over GHC 800,000 Maputo scandal, the nation is yet to hear the outcome of other probes in respect of the diversion of GHC500,000 at the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre; the GHC144,000 SUBAH/GRA scandal; and the GH�32m SADA tree planting scandal. Another recent one of much interest to the nation is the probe into the alleged malfeasance at the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation, whose board chairman is Hudu Yahaya, former General Secretary of the NDC. Information available to the New Statesman indicates that the report has long been forwarded to President Mahama, who is refusing to release it in view of some damning revelations it contains. Following the demonstration by workers for the dissolution of the board and management of BOST, the Minister for Energy and Petroleum, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, on Monday, June17, 2013, set up a Committee of Inquiry to investigate the allegations of impropriety. According to the minster, the probe had become necessary at the time �following the incessant allegations of irregularities� at BOST �and to ensure optimum efficiency in the transportation of fuel products.� He charged the committee, which was chaired by Clothilde Akosua Agbenorto of the National Petroleum Authority, with Dorothy Afriyie Ansah of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General Department, Kweku Agyemang Duah of Oil Marketing Companies, Nii Lante Blankson of the Bureau of National Investigations as some of the members, to submit its recommendations to him within two weeks from the first day of sitting. The Committee was specifically charged to, among others, go into the conditions of Service of the workers of BOST, scrutinize the curriculum vitaes of Bagnaba Van Gogh, Accra Depot Manager, and one Nicholas Samari. It was also to do analysis of Waybills from October, 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013 at the Accra and Team depots, as well as analysis of Claims Forms for Transporters for the same period. Sources at BOST have told the New Statesman that workers suspect �some fishy happenings about the non-release of the report.� Some senior staff are said to be threatening to go on demonstration if the report is not released immediately. Our sources say �workers have been reliably informed that the Committee has submitted its report to the Minister but the minister has forwarded it to the President waiting for his directions.� One source asked: �What is preventing the president from releasing the report? Is there something in the report he wants to hide from us and the public?� The workers of BOST are particularly worried about the fact that the very things for which the committee was constituted to probe are still taking place, and culminating in huge losses to the nation.