MPs To Probe Anas Video

Parliament has set up a committee to investigate the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and its president, Kwesi Nyantakyi over the Anas investigative video.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye gave the orders pursuant to Article 109, which empowers Parliament to make laws to regulate professional, trade and organizations subject to clause 1 and 2.

Article 109 enjoins professional, trade and related organizations to conduct their businesses on democratic lines.

The Speaker was of the view that an organization which is entangled in such monumental corruption cannot be seen to be conducting itself on democratic lines.

According to him, Parliament is therefore entitled to look into the matter and come to conclusion one way or the other.

He indicated further that, “we are all in an era where we all agree that we are fighting corruption and that Parliament should be the institution that is most interested, in view of its representative body of the entire people of Ghana”.

He indicated further that, no body, institution or association can assume immunity from Parliamentary investigation.

The Speaker suggested that “we form a special committee involving both sides of the House so that we know which recommendations to make”.

The Member for Sefwi Bodi and member of the Privileges Committee Sampson Ahi earlier brought the attention of the House to the embarrassment that the expose has brought on the country.

He called on the House to constitute a committee to investigate the entire activities of the GFA and the entire ‘Anas video’.

The Member for Adansi Asokwa constituency, K. T. Hammond on his part indicated that the notion that the GFA is an autonomous body and for that matter not accountable to anyone must be rejected.

He explained that due to the fact that they are sponsored with state money, they are accountable to the people of Ghana.

He added that, the House therefore is interested in the way the GFA is run and that that though the President has referred the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, after watching the video, that there is more to investigate than what the President sent to the CID.

He therefore called on the House to ask the president of the GFA, Kwesi Nyantakyi to resign, in order to allow investigations to be carried smoothly without interference.

Making reference to the infamous Brazil World Cup saga, he said Kwesi Nyantakyi has brought the image of Ghana into disrepute and must face the consequences.

On his part, the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu agreed with earlier calls for a committee to investigate the saga per article 109 of the constitution.

He also agreed that once state monies were used to sponsor the GFA, they must be accountable.

He added that the GFA should account to the nation how they used the monies spent on them by the state adding that GFA must render proper accounts since they owe Ghana that responsibility.

The House is yet to agree on the number and membership of the committee.

By: Frederick E. Aggrey