Trade Ministry did no wrong - Ad hoc Committee

The ad hoc committee set up by the Speaker of Parliament to probe the Ministry of Trade and Industry has dismissed claims that they extorted money from expatriate Chief Executive Officers in Ghana.

The Minority earlier accused the Trades Ministry of using the presidency to raise funds for the organization of the Expatriate Business Awards organized on December 8, 2017.

According to the Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak, expatriate businessmen paid between ¢15,000 - 100,000 to sit close to the President at the Awards night.

However, the five-member ad hoc committee said there is no merit in the allegation levelled against Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Foundation.

These were contained in the ad hoc committee’s final report to Parliament on Tuesday.

The committee recommended that "that the Controller and Accountant General and the Ministry of Finance should consider in the formulation of the new Regulation of the PFM Act, adequate provision to cater for public private partnership arrangement and emerging or contemporary issues."

"That there is a need to have a second look at the recall mechanism and ensure that it is not needlessly invoked at any time because of its mandatory nature in the Constitution. Upon a recall, Mr. Speaker may have to establish that there is a “prima facie” case and if Mr. Speaker is not satisfied that there is a good reason for the summoning, he may dispense with the meeting. This test is likely to curtail frivolous and vexatious request for a recall."

“That the practice of some Members of Parliament trooping to the media to make allegations against highly placed officials must cease. The Committee is of the view that Members of Parliament who indulge in such acts ought not to be heard in Parliament if they should thereafter bring those matters before Parliament for Parliament to deliberate on the matter.”

After news broke that seats beside President Akufo-Addo were sold, he summoned the Trade and Industry Minister.

However, the Minister explained it was not responsible for the supposed charges that expatriate businesses paid.

According to the ministry, “the GEBA was the brainchild of the Millennium Excellence Foundation, an entity noted for its prowess and credibility in the organisation of world-class events such as the Millennium Excellence Awards and the Accra Marathon."