Deputy Minister of Information, Pius Enam Hadzide, believes that investigations into Ghana’s banking crisis will yield better results if a lot more is done aside the just ended parliamentary in-camera probe into the matter.
Last Friday, parliament ended its secret hearing on the banking crisis.
The 25-member Finance Committee was expected to focus on the role the Bank of Ghana played in the collapse of the banks, and determine the extent of culpability of central bank officials.
[contextly_sidebar id=”mzICNBOjujjIRtG6iRuxpnWmYHNE9znE”] But speaking on Citi FM/ Citi TV’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday, Mr. Hadzie said it was only right for the preliminary investigations be held in camera for the Bank of Ghana and its related parties, to provide first-hand information to enable the committee in fulfill its duties.
“So I don’t have a problem at all that the first step was held in camera session, and had to deal with the regulators and the agencies that worked for the regulator to investigate this matter because they are the first port of call.”
“I think that this is the beginning of this process, it shouldn’t terminate at this in-camera hearing. My sense is that it is important for the committee to have an understanding and establish a certain basis or a prima facie for further action”, he stressed.
He further mentioned that calls for a public hearing of the committee’s sitting could be considered insisting that the parliamentary probe should not be the end of inquiries.
“Having heard from them, my view is that they shouldn’t terminate. Maybe we can call for the public hearings so I don’t expect that it should be terminated at this point.”
Petitions against in-camera hearing
Ahead of the sitting, some two Ghanaians petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Ocquaye, to allow for a public hearing of the legislature’s probe into the crisis.
The two, Nana Adofo Ofori and Anthony Mifetoo, argued that the decision by the finance committee to hold the hearings in-camera is counterproductive.
Adongo boycotts parliamentary probe, alleges cover-up
Member of Parliamnet for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, boycotted the legislature’s probe into the banking crisis.
Mr. Adongo, a member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, said the proceedings were a mere “rubber stamp process.”
“It will deliver no value. I am not willing to be part of it,” he told the media.
He complained that the committee did not have the best of documentation and records to assist members of the committee with the probe.
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By: Nii Larte Lartey/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
