Scandal at Sports Ministry: Mills seeks answers

The president seeks responses to the numerous charges of corruption against the minister

President Mills has instructed the Minister of Sports, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, to present a detailed written response to an alleged gross financial malfeasance he has been involved in at his ministry.
In a report addressed to the President John Evans Atta Mills, a copy of which was intercepted by Asempa FM, the Principal Accountant at the Sport Ministry, Mr Adim Odoom, chronicled a long list of transactions and requests made by the minister since assuming office three months ago.
The minister is said to have demanded monies amounting to several thousands of Ghana cedis in lieu of expenses made on behalf of the Black Stars. He allegedly made requests for monies for unofficial expenses.
The minister is said to have travelled with his girlfriend to the finals of the CHAN tournament played early February in Abidjan and charged the cost to his ministry, contrary to advice from his office.
The document also cites the minister as allegedly taking $2000 as imprest to cater for hotel bills and other expenses at the tournament but made the imprest holder of the Sports Ministry pay for the expenses.
According to the document, while the minister claimed top guns of the NDC government had paid $10,000 as landing charges for the aircraft which conveyed government officials to the CHAN, he turned round to demand a refund of the amount from the ministry.
“The accountant released the money ($10,000) to him through the Chief Director. The minister could not produce receipt to date,” the report claimed.
It continued that the minister had taken per diem of GH¢2,000 for the Ghana-Benin match in Kumasi “though he was told that his maximum per diem entitlement was GH¢1,120."
In what appeared to be the biggest transaction signed on the instruction of the minister, the document said Mr Mubarak had signed a covering letter to the Ministry of Finance demanding the release of a whopping GH¢1,410,051.58 to the National Sports Council (NSC) when the Office of the Chief of Staff had not been consulted.
The report also mentioned the minister to have personally arranged accommodation and feeding expenses of the Black Stars players and officials in Kenya and Sudan in pre-match campings, without the involvement of any other official of the his ministry.
The last charge in the six point report claimed the Hon Mubarak had requested a refund of GH¢674.02 as expenses for baby oil, baby food and other household items although he was advised against such requests.
The minister is said to have presented an oral response to the president Tuesday but was asked to return with a more detailed written response.
Alhaji Mubarak has meanwhile denied the allegations, intimating it is a calculated move to malign him and destroy his hard-won reputation.
The unfolding saga is reminiscent of the story of former Sports Minister Mallam Issah who was jailed on charges of theft during the previous administration.
Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com

Below is the report
LIST OF TRANSACTION AND REQUESTS, WHICH THE ACCOUNTANT OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS(MOYS) TRIED TO REGULARIZE AND WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO HIS REMOVAL FROM OFFICE BY THE HON. MINISTER OF YOUTH AND SPORTS
1. The Hon. Minister on assumption of office travelled with his girlfriend by name Edith Zineuali to the finals at the 1st CHAN tournament in Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire contrary to advice from this office. He insisted that this Ministry should pay for her ticket which was paid. He took $2,000 as imprest to cater for hotel bills and other expenses at the tournament but made the imprest holder of this Ministry pay all his expenses. He refused to acknowledge receipt of the money. Copies of receipts for airfares marked appendix A.
2. The Hon. Minister claimed some top people in government paid $10,000 as landing charges for the aircraft which took government delegation to the CHAN. He mentioned two of these gentlemen as Mr. Kodjo Bonsu and Hon . Alex Segbefia and that the Ministry was to refund the amount of $10,000. The Accounts Department offered to go and make the refund and collect the receipt but he insisted on taking the money himself. The accountant released the money ($10, 000) to him through the Chief Director. The Minister could not produce the receipt to date.
3. The Hon. Minister insisted on taking and took per diem allowances of GH¢2, OOO for the Ghana vrs Benin match in Kumasi though he was told that his maximum per diem entitlement was GH¢1,120. See evidence as appendix B.
4. The National Sport Council (NSC) requested for an amount of GH¢ 1, 410,051.58 in a letter signed by Mr. Charles James Aryeh which related to expenditure incurred in April 2009 but did not specify details of expenditure. The Accountant of the Ministry advised that since the activities had already taken place, detailed actual receipts should be attached and processed through the office of the Chief of Staff. Though the NSC letter was dated 12th April, 2009, it was received on 12th of May, 2009. The Hon. Minister however signed a covering letter addressed to the Hon. Minister of Finance for the release of the amount on 15th May 2009. The schedule officer at the Ministry of Finance called this Ministry to indicate that the transaction was irregular and the Accountant (MOYS) advised the schedule officer to put it on hold (copy attached as appendix C).
5. This Ministry normally made direct contact with hotels through the various foreign Missions for security and other reasons. The Hon. Minister personally arranged the accommodation and feeding of the Black Star players and officials in Navaisha, Kenya in pre-match camping in the match again