The Minister of Youth and Sports has debunked claims by the Minority in Parliament that the ministry used close to GH¢200 million to pay ghost names under the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA).
A report of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture said a total amount of GH¢54,244,178.00, being monies from Government of Ghana, donor funds and internally generated funds, was budgeted for the ministry for the 2012 financial year but it ended up spending GH¢240,993,010.76. The ministry said the amount was used in paying arrears of employees under GYEEDA.
Member of Parliament for New Juabeng South, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah had alleged on the floor of the House that the money was paid to non-existing names.
Later in an interview with Joy FM’s parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey, he demanded that the ministry provide data on the beneficiaries.
“On the floor of Parliament, the minister and the ministry are unable to provide details on how the [about] 200 million was spent; for me that money went to nonexistent workers, ghost workers. If indeed they are true workers this should not be too difficult to provide," he stated.
He said during the committee sitting, the ministry was asked to provide details but for “a whole week” nothing was heard.
Dr Assibey Yeboah disclosed that he opposed the adoption of the report but because the Committee is “dominated” by members from the Majority side, they managed to bulldoze their way through.
But Sports Minister Elvis Afriyie Ankrah told Joy FM’s Top Story that before leaving for Kumasi for the Black Stars match against Sudan played on Sunday, he instructed officials of the ministry in the presence of the Committee to provide Parliament with details of the expenditure.
He said upon his return, he was briefed and showed evidence on Monday that his directive was carried through.
He was therefore surprised that MPs, mainly from the Minority side, claimed the details were not made available to the House.
Mr Afriyie Ankrah also noted that what was presented to the House by the Committee was just a summary, indicating that the full document would be too bulky for presentation purposes, and urged MPs to see the leadership of the House for the full data.
According to him, the amount spent over the period under review was far below what they had requested for. He said the ministry had asked for GH¢400 million budgetary allocation.
The Minister also placed on record that the number of beneficiaries has increased from about 100,000 in 2009 to over 400,000.
But a member of the Committee, Isaac Asiamah insisted on Top Story that the minister was not forthcoming with the truth.
He said as at Tuesday 5:40pm MPs, in Parliament, have been demanding the detail report on how the GH¢199,311,753.00 was spent but nobody has been able to provide those details.
However, Member of Parliament for Chiana Paga Abuga Pele, who is also a member of the Committee on Youth, Sports Culture, told Joy News the Sports Ministry only followed tradition and presented the information that was needed by the House.
He said it would be “ridiculous” to present the bulky document to the House, stressing that Parliament has always been presented with a summary, and therefore asked MPs who want the full detail to go to the sector ministry.
But he could not confirm claims by the Minister that those details have been submitted to Parliament.
