Parliament has set up a special committee to probe bribery revelations within the Ghana Football Association contained in documentary by undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
“So far as a matter concerns a public or national interest in Ghana, Parliament can investigate that matter”, the Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Oquaye gave his ruling after bi-partisan calls were made on the floor of the House for an inquiry.
NDC MP Sampson Ahi first raised the issue of an inquiry on the floor of the House and called for the resignation of the Ghana Football Association President Kwesi Nyantakyi who is under investigations for defrauding by false pretence.
The GFA president is the biggest catch in Anas’ latest investigative work into sports administration which filmed dozens of referees and match commissioners taking monies to fix matches.
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Kwesi Nyantakyi told private investigators posing as investors, he could help them do business if they paid millions to the President and Vice-President.
He is seen collecting $65,000, promising the ‘investor’ he could ‘take over the whole country’.
Public trolling of officials captured in the video has followed since the Wednesday screening of the documentary.
Less than 24 hours since the screening, Parliament has waded into the controversy. Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak in backing Sampson Ahi said parliament “must cease the opportunity” to investigate the controversy.
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He called for a small group of MPs to investigate the matter to ensure the work is not bogged down by long debates.
The Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu however urged caution, explaining the GFA is a private body.
In his ruling, Speaker of Parliament talked up the power of Parliament to investigate saying “since no person body or institution can assume immunity from parliamentary investigation, I would ask that we form a special committee right now”
“We all agree we are fighting corruption and Parliament should be the authority that is most interested in view of it being a representative body of the entire people of Ghana”.
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