Accra, July 28, GNA - The Presidential Enquiry Commission probing the Ghana at 50 activities on Tuesday adjourned its sitting till next Tuesday, August 4, to enable all regional and district coordinating councils to adequately prepare before testifying.

Justice Isaac Duose, Chairman of the Commission, who announced the adjournment, said so far the regions that had presented their reports on the Ghana at 50 celebrations were disappointing and there was the need to give them ample time to put their houses in order before appearing before the commission.

He, however, commended the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council for coming out with a comprehensive and coordinated report on activities of the celebrations.

Justice Duose said the delays in presenting memoranda to the Commission could put a lot of pressure on the members and all those engaged in the enquiries.

He called on them to either submit their reports on time or face sanctions yet to be spelt out.

Earlier, Mr Samuel Okyere Kusi-Appiah, Ashanti Regional Coordinating Director, who was the first to appear before the commission, said he could not give a comprehensive report on the region's celebrations because the then Regional Coordinating Director whose name he gave as Kwarteng, was on retirement, while the Storekeeper, named as Taylor, had also died.

He said he could not trace any comprehensive report and documents covering the Ghana @ 50 celebrations, when he was asked whether there were no duplicates of all the transactions made within the period. "All that I have here is that the region was given a total of 780 Million Ghana cedis out of which 550 million Ghana cedis was used for the rehabilitation works at the Region's Jubilee Park, Centre for National Culture and the Amphi- Theatre at the Centre for National Culture".

He said he could not also account for the sale of Ghana @ 50 souvenirs that were allocated to the region since there were no documents covering those souvenirs.

Justice Duose said Mr Kusi-Appiah would soon be brought before the Commission again with the retired coordinating director to give adequate report since the Commission was not happy with what had been presented. Mr Samuel Awuni Bawa, Eastern Regional Coordinating Director, flanked by his Regional Accountant and Regional Budgeting Officer, said they received a total of 740 million Ghana Cedis out of which GHC 10,000.00 was allocated to all the districts of the region. He said the region still had a balance of 120 million Ghana Cedis that could cater for other uncompleted projects that were awarded for the celebrations.

Mr Bawa said he did not receive any correspondence pertaining to the sale of souvenirs of Ghana @ 50 and therefore did not sell any of the souvenirs, when he was asked why they had to give some of them free to workers, chiefs and children. He, however, promised to find out and give a feedback to the Commission at the appropriate time. 28 July 09