Mahama Ayariga Ordered To Produce World Cup Budget In Two Weeks

Parliament has given the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga a two-week ultimatum to furnish the House with the total cost incurred on the Black Stars at the 2014 World Cup. 

The directive was given by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ebo Barton-Oduro in reaction to a response given by the Minister to a question on the Stars’ expenses which stood in the name of the MP for Ablekuma North, Justice Joe Appiah. 

Mr Ayariga said a Presidential Commission is probing the same matter and so prayed the House to wait for the findings of the Commission to be made ready as it will look into the cost of the Stars' participation. 

He said apart from public funding, private organisations also contributed funds and so the Commission is in a position to give a holistic picture. 

This answer from the Minister did not go down well with some MPs. 

The Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said previous Committees set up had yielded little results and so the House has to be given full disclosure on the matter. 

He said the Minister should be careful not to contravene the constitution. 

In his ruling, Mr Barton-Oduro said since the question was admitted before the Commission was set up and in order to strengthen the institution of Parliament, the Minister ought to provide the finances on the Black Stars participation. 

This will in no way be prejudicial to the Commission’s work. 

GBC