THE FORMER Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, came under intense scrutiny for more than three hours at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing the activities of Ghana@ 50 Secretariat, answering question on what and how funds were used for Ghana’s jubilee anniversary celebrations two years ago.
Appearing before the Commission last Friday, the former Chairman of the National Planning Committee (NPC), a cabinet sub-committee set up to handle the celebrations, told the Commission that an amount of $75 million was approved for the event as it was supposed to have local and international recognition, showcasing Ghana as the trailblazer in African independence and liberation struggle.
Aided by his counsel, lawyer Egbert Faibille of Kulendi@Law, Mr. Mpiani went Biblical to show the significance of the jubilee anniversary celebration as a unifying occasion for all Ghanaians, quoting Leviticus 25:10, which says, “And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants; it shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his family”.
This, he indicated, followed the announcement in 2006 by former President John Agyekum Kufuor that the jubilee celebration was to be a year-long event on the theme; ‘The New Ghana-Championing Africa’s Excellence’, to expose Ghana to the international community as a beacon of democracy.
He however explained that out of the approved amount, only a fraction of about $31million was released by government, which was not even disbursed on time due to financial constraints, compelling the NPC to fall on the National Investment Bank (NIB), Prudential Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) for assistance.
He dispelled what he called wild rumours that the NPC was just a conspiracy between him and former Chief Executive of Ghana@ 50, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, to handle the jubilee celebrations, stressing the Planning Committee was made up of more than ten sector Ministers.
Among them were the Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning, Tourism, Water Resources, Works and Housing; Local Government and Rural Development; Interior, National Security, Information & National Orientation; Women and Children’s Affairs; and Lands and Forestry.
The former Chief of Staff entreated Ghanaians to desist from what he described as the “Pull Him Down (PHD)” syndrome and allow people entrusted with national duties the opportunity to do their work.
“Our society should know that there is always a tomorrow.
A society which looks at everybody with suspicion, a society which wants to pull everybody down, My Lord cannot move this country forward,” Mr. Mpiani admonished.
The former Chief of Staff said while he was not against holding public officials accountable for their stewardship, it was important that “we have faith and trust in them and let them account for the job we’ve given them to do”
He added that “if in the course of doing their jobs there are malfeasances, nobody is asking the government or the authorities to cover up these people but a society which looks at everybody with suspicion and want to pull everybody down cannot move the nation forward.”
Mr. Mpiani urged Ghanaians to be guided by the fact that there will always be tomorrow.
Concurring with Mr. Mpiani’s assertions, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Isaac Duose, cautioned the media to desist from vindictiveness and personal attacks on individuals.
“I hope the press which has been leading the campaign of vilification in this country has heard you well. As I sit here, they have started vilifying me. I’m going to sit here just for a short while but they have already started pulling me down,” Justice Duose lamented.
He pointed out that “Rwanda was caused by the press and if the press wants Rwanda to happen in this country, they will get it.”
The former Chairman of the NPC said it was the decision of cabinet to build the houses at La and Ridge to accommodate the visiting Heads of State and other foreign dignitaries for the jubilee celebration and African Union (AU) summit, as it was also part of requirements for host nations.
Mr. Mpiani further told the Commission that refurbishment and rehabilitation work needed to be done at venues that were to be used for the anniversary celebrations as well as historical monuments that had been left to decay.
Consequently, each region was given a fixed amount of GH¢150,000 for jubilee parks and renovating all the approved venues for the celebration.
This decision, he said, was informed by the large number of visitors that were expected to witness the event, adding that it was to showcase Ghana as a tourism destination and hospitable country.
Dismissing the propaganda that souvenirs and anniversary clothes were procured in the midst of poverty in the country, Mr. Mpiani pointed out Ghana@ 50 was only following tradition, as all the things now being condemned had been done during the 40th Anniversary Celebration of Ghana’s independence, under the leadership of ex-president Jerry John Rawlings, even when the country was poorer than today.
Meanwhile, former Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives who were supposedly implicated by evidence from the various Assemblies would start appearing today.
The Commission which has so far taken evidence from more than 200 witnesses comprising suppliers, contractors and service providers, is gradually winding up its hearings.
By Awudu Mahama
