Probe Underway at Ghana’s Sports Ministry

Ghanaian President John Atta-Mills has ordered an investigation into the financial activities of the Minister of Youth and Sports who has been accused of financial impropriety at the sports ministry.

The president has directed the sports minister, Muntaka Mubarak, to take a leave of absence pending the completion of the investigation which is being conducted by the National security coordinator.Minister Mubarak has denied any wrongdoing.

ahama Ayariga is the presidential spokesman. He told VOA that President Atta-Mills will make a decision on the fate of the minister based on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

"President Mills has directed that the sports minister Honorable Muntaka Mubarak should proceed on leave while the National Security Agency has been directed to conduct investigations into the allegations that have been made against the sports minister," Ayariga said.

He said the probe would be expedited provided the players at the center of the controversy fully cooperate with the investigators.

"It is hoped that if all the actors cooperate with the National Security Agency, within a very short time, we should have the outcome of the investigation made known to the president," he said.

Ayariga said President Atta-Mills called for an independent probe to ensure fairness to both the sports minister and his accusers.

"What the president wanted to do was to give Honorable Mubarak an opportunity to respond to the allegations based on which he (President Atta-Mills) will take a decision where there are matters that would require further investigations," Ayariga said.

Ayariga said Minister Mubarak denied any wrongdoing and claimed he was set up.