WE'LL ACT DECISIVELY *On report of Ghana@50 Commission, Prez assures

Front Page: Daily Graphic, December 24, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
President J.E.A. Mills yesterday received the report of the Presidential Commission that inquired into the activities of the Ghana@50 Secretariat with a declaration to act on the recommendations of the commission without fear or favour.
He dismissed people’s impression that the commission’s work was a witch-hunt or harassment and promised to look at the report and take the needed action.
President Mills expressed his appreciation to members of the commission for doing an excellent job in a fair and impartial manner.
The President set up the three-member commission to look into the activities of Ghana’s Golden Jubilee anniversary celebrations. The commission took submissions from 238 witnesses, who were directly or indirectly involved in the 50th independence anniversary celebration.
Mr Justice Isaac Duose chaired the commission with Mr Osei Tutu Prempeh, a former Auditor-General, and Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong, a legal practitioner, as members.
The commission commenced its public hearings at the Conference Room of the Old Parliament House building in Accra on Thursday, July 23 after its inauguration by Vice-President John Dramani Mahama on June 17, 2009.
Later in an interview with newsmen, Mr Justice Duose said it was possible that some people could be prosecuted, but was quick to add that any prosecution was the preserve of the President.
He noted that the solution to dealing with such problems in the future was by addressing the weaknesses in the governance system and not prosecution.
He said there were more lessons to be learnt from what happened and it should also serve as a reminder to those currently in authority that they would also be called upon to give account of their stewardship at the end of their tenure of office.
Mr Justice Duose said people should not be afraid to account for their stewardship unless they had done something wrong.
He said the commission was of the view that national events should reflect national character and not be limited to a party in government.
Mr Justice Duose said the commission was also of the view that appointments to positions should reflect the qualifications, training and skills of the appointee so that appointees would be able to deliver.
He said it was obvious during the public hearings that some persons put in certain positions did not have the requisite qualifications and training and cited some District Chief Executives as exposing their ignorance during the commission’s public hearings.
He also cited an instance where a cleaner was also made a cashier in a district assembly.
On the various golden jubilee projects, especially the jubilee toilets, Mr Justice Duose said there was nothing wrong as they were very necessary.
He said the process of implementation was the major problem as some persons were not qualified to undertake those projects.
As to whether the commission held further hearings after the public hearings, Mr Justice Duose said there were no secret hearings or investigations.
The terms of reference of the commission were to inquire into and report on allegations of improper use of public and other funds; inquire into the use by the secretariat of any property, movable and immovable; inquire into any other matter which appeared to the commission to be incidental to or reasonably related to the Ghana@50 celebrations and to make recommendations in respect of the findings of fact by the commission.
The commission, in the course of the public hearings, took submissions and petitions from the district assemblies, regional co-ordinating councils, private entities, service providers, technocrats, construction firms, consultants, the Ghana@50 Secretariat and the Office of the Chief of Staff.