Appointment's Committee Concludes Its Report On Ayariga

The Appointments Committee of Parliament has concluded its reports on the Trade and Industry Minister designate, Mahama Ayariga and would soon forward it to parliament for deliberations. The House would subject the report to a debate based on which parliament will decide whether or not to approve the nominee. A member of the Appointments Committee of Parliament and MP for Abuakwa South, Hon. Ata Akyea, confirmed this to Citi News on Tuesday, March 2. Mahama Ayariga�s approval was put on hold to enable members of the Committee conduct their own investigations into how he secured five Kubota tractors meant for farmers in deprived communities, from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. A pressure group, the Progressive Nationalist Forum, PNF dragged Ayariga to CHRAJ, arguing he inappropriately abused his office and bought tractors that he was not entitled to. The PNF claimed the tractors acquired by Mr. Ayariga formed part of some 2000 tractors and their accessories procured by the government of Ghana for underprivileged farmers across the country to boost food production and security in the country. But after examining all the evidence provided by the PNF and Ayariga, the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), a day to Mr. Ayariga's vetting, said it came to the conclusion that Mr. Ayariga did not violate any regulations, neither was there any shred of evidence to substantiate the allegations against him. But at a closed door meeting on Thursday 11th February 2009, the Appointment Committee resolved to officially write to CHRAJ on Friday 12th February to seek clarification on the commission�s ruling. Hon Ata Akyea told Citi News that after contacting CHRAJ, the committee is now convinced that Mahama Ayariga has been cleared of any malfeasance with regards to the purchase of the tractors and would therefore forward the report to parliament for deliberations. �There is no impediment against him since CHRAJ has cleared him so we�ll put the report before parliament for approval or otherwise,� He said.