Speaker of Parliament blasts Mahama for displaying ‘bad faith’

• Posted on July 14, 2014July 14, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

In what some Minority MPs have called a disappointing Presidential attempt to “stifle debate” in Ghana’s Parliament, Youth And Sports Minister, Mahama Ayariga, announced today that President John Dramani Mahama has issued a Constitutional Instrument, seeking to set up a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the performance of the Black Stars at the 2014 World Cup tournament in Brazil and the scandals it generated.

Youth and Sports Minister, Mahama Ayariga, disclosed details of the CI on the floor of Parliament on Monday.

He was countering a motion moved by the Minority in a bid to press for the establishment of a Commission of Enquiry to probe the Black Stars in Brazil Scandal.

The President’s move has provoked Minority’s outrage, with Sekondi MP, Papa Owusu Ankomah, arguing that the government’s CI was a blatant attempt to stifle debate in the Ghanaian Legislature.

Mr. Ayariga’s revelation that the President has issued and gazetted CI 82 which seeks to establish a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the Ghana’s poor performance at the World Cup

Speaker Doe Adjaho has audaciously criticized President Mahama for displaying “bad faith” by issuing CI 82 to set up a Commission of Enquiry to probe the Black Stars Scandal.

It is believed the off-field drama may have hastened the elimination of the Black Star’s from the World Cup.

The team threatened a boycott of the Portugal match over appearance fees.

The threat of a boycott led to the government flying over three million dollars to Brazil to pay appearance fees of the Black Stars.

The airlifting of the money caused huge outrage in Ghana with many questioning government’s decision o send the money at the time the economy was in decline.

Report also indicates that about 200 supporters government sent to Brazil were now seeking in asylum in that country. The said supporters claim they were fleeing religious violence between Muslim groups.

The public anger over the matters arsing from Brazil led to the establishment of a Committee by the new Minister of Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga.

However, the president’s move indicates Mr. Ayariga’s committee may have to be dissolved.

Meanwhile, debate on the matter continues on the floor with Mahama Ayariga rising to oppose the Minority’s motion which was moved by Issac Kwame Asiamah.

Earlier the Speaker threw out a proposed counter motion which sought to amend the minority’s motion.

The original motion as moved by Asiamah reads “That this Honourable House sets up a bipartisan Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry to investigate events and activities before, during and after Ghana’s preparation and participation in Brazil 2014.”

The abortive amendment motion, filed by Chairman of the Youth and Sports Committee, Kobena Mensah Woyome, reads “That this honourable House request the Ministry of Youth and Sports to submit its report on the administrative inquiry into the Black Stars participation in the FIFA World Cup 2014 tournament in Brazil after completion of its work and further that this House sets up an Ad Hoc Committee to look into same to enable Parliament make an informed decision.”

By: Richard Dela Sky