Parliament must probe Mahama – Ernesto Yeboah

Ernesto Yeboah, a youth leader of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has said the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice’s (CHRAJ) report in relation to Mahama’s Ford gift Saga released Thursday, September, 29, should be a compelling interest for Parliament to probe Mahama.

Ernesto contends that the President per the report has violated oath of his office and ought be invited by the legislature for further questioning.

“…he swore an oath to protect and defend the constitution, the law policies and programmes of the state. If CHRAJ is telling the people of Ghana that the President is in violation of policy regarding corruption, then the President should be subpoenaed by parliament in an impeachment proceeding to answer questions,” Ernesto who initiated the petition that compelled the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), to investigate President Mahama’s receipt of the Ford gift from a Burkinabe contractor asserted on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM.

CHRAJ’s report has cleared Mahama on the accusations of conflict of interest and corruption variously made against him by certain members of the public and the youth league of the CPP.

Even though CHRAJ in a 78-page report, indicted President Mahama, saying he violated the gift policy with regard to his decision to accept the vehicle, he was cleared of any bribery.

According to CHRAJ, it was satisfied that the gift in question formed part of gifts prohibited under the Gift Policy under the Code of Conduct and that although the evidence show that President Mahama subsequently surrendered the gift to the State, the action nonetheless contravened the gift policy.

Reacting to the report in an interview with host Fiifi Banson on Kasapa FM, Ernesto said if indeed Mr Mahama is in breach of any code of conduct, state institutions must muster courage and probe further the matter for the interest of safeguarding the constitution and the rule of law.

“You did not swear an oath that you’ll be in breach of the constitution; or disregarding and disrespecting the policies put in place to run this country, he said.

The breach of the gift policy which CHRAJ quoted in its report, according to Ernesto must sufficed for the need for further inquiry into the issues arising from the infamous Ford gift saga.

He said since the said policy wasn’t made for fun, and was critically fashion out to deal with corruption in the country in public offices, Mr Mahama also had the primary responsibility to have protected it but failed to do so.