Government denies fresh investigation into Muntaka saga

Accra, Nov.25, GNA - Government has denied media publications suggesting it has instituted fresh investigations into the 20,000 dollars purported to have been received unlawfully by former Youth and Sports Minister, Mohammed Muntaka Muburak.

Koku Anyidoho, Communications Director at the Presidency in reaction to the media reports on Thursday said government has given no such order. The report claimed the President, John Evans Atta Mills had ordered the Civil Service Council to commence fresh investigations into the $20,000 which the former Minister was alleged to have received whiles in office. But Anyidoho insist the reverse is the truth.

The story which broke on Thursday sourced "credible information from government indicating that the President had ordered new investigations into Muntaka's controversial $20,000 saga."

Mubarak resigned after only a few months in office following investigations into financial irregularities leveled against him. It will be recalled that President Mills asked Alhaji Muntaka, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asawase, Kumasi to proceed on leave to enable the national security to investigate the allegations made by some officials of the Ministry, led by the principal accountant, Mr Adim Odoom over financial irregularities.

The National Security completed the investigations and submitted its report to the President which did not establish that the Minister collected 20,000 dollars as imprest for the finals of the maiden African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire in 2009 where Ghana finished at silver medalists.

The President also ordered an audit into the affairs of the Sports Division of the Ministry of Youth and Sports covering the period 2001 to 2009 as well as a review of the organization, role and structure of the Ministry of Youth and Sports as recommended by the National Security investigation report.