The media has stumbled upon a document which outlines certain recommendations for consideration by the Parliamentary Service Board Ad hoc Committee on the popular Begyina Sakyi-Hughes furnishings saga.
An internal memo dated March 30th, 2009 and addressed to the chairman and members of the committee as well as the Clerk of Parliament indicated that a thorough investigation had been conducted on the matter.
The ad hoc committee was set up by the board to investigate circumstances surrounding Mr Sakyi-Hughe’s failure to leave behind certain soft furnishings provided by government for his official residence when he was leaving the facility after his tenure as Speaker of the Fourth Parliament.
Mr Sakyi-Hughes is alleged to have hauled away furniture and fittings, estimated to cost several millions of Ghana cedis, at his official residence when he was vacating to resettle at his new Cape Coast abode.
A second document which outlined certain recommendations for consideration by the board stated that whiles certain items are to be retained, others must be returned, with some to be discounted and paid for by the former speaker.
Items to be returned include a combined gas and electric cooker, a stainless steel semi-industrial refrigerator, a washing machine and some chest freezers whilst lighting fittings, carpets and racks would be sold to the former speaker at a discounted price.
The document recommends that Mr Sakyi-Hughes could keep the vacuum cleaner, queen-size bed, bedside cabinet, chest drawers, and centre table.
The committee also recommends repair works on the ceiling of the residence and pipes which it said have been leaking; curtains, gas cookers and washing machines have also been recommended to be replaced.
According to the committee the recommendations had been “made without prejudice to recommendations arrived at by the Parliamentary Service Board.â€Â
The committee also took into consideration Parliament’s “internal policy on disposal of soft furnishings, current cost replacement, year of acquisition and possibility of item being returned in good condition and likelihood of setting precedence.†Read the 10-page report here.
Mr Sakyi-Hughes in an interview early on with Joy News, maintained he was entitled to the furnishings and that suggestions that faulted him were rather misplaced.
Meanwhile Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu who is also a member of the board has declined discussing the purported document and its recommendations.
He maintains that its acquisition is rather immature.
Whilst he would not confirm whether or not the document is authentic, Mr Mensah-Bonsu disclosed that the committee has made certain recommendations but would demand a thorough study by the board before an onward submission to the Speaker.
Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com