Gov't releases 'true' GYEEDA report but shows no copy to anyone

Government has released the much-anticipated GYEEDA report, a deputy Information Minister who did not produce a copy of the report, announced.

At one of the shortest daily media briefings at the Presidency Wednesday, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, finishing his briefing in 36 seconds said, 'the report is out there'.

The controversial Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) report describes serious lapses and a disturbing trend of financial impropriety at the youth employment agency.

The investigation was commissioned by the Ministry of Youth and Sports which has oversight responsibility over GYEEDA. The report was given to President John Mahama who turned it over to his presidential adviser P.V Obeng to review and recommend an action plan on the content of the report.

The government came under public pressure mainly from the opposition NPP and civil society organisations to publish the contents of the investigative report.

A leaked copy which circulated in the media was described by government as fake. President Mahama also urged patience promising to publish the report after his presidential adviser had finished working on it.

The PV Obeng group is done with its recommendations and Mr Kwakye Ofosu says the report containing those recommendations, together with investigative report is out there.

He could not tell where exactly the report could be obtained, but assured that 'it is in the system'.

'I am sure when you lay hands on it, you can study it. Well, it is out, it is in the system, some have it. It is in circulation', Felix Kwakye Ofosu told angry journalists at the Flagstaff House.

In an interview with Joy News later, the deputy minister insisted that the report was out there, although it could not be found on the official government information portal.

He would not name any journalist or media house who has received a copy. That would not be fair, he said.

He said the action plan calls for a GYEEDA bill, it asked the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to prosecute officials cited as engaging in financial impropriety. It also recommended an interim management team to manage the youth agency.

Daniel Batidam, an anti-corruption campaigner with the African Parliamentary Network said 'I feel sad listening to Felix... If people are not ready to govern they should let us know'.

In a further reaction, 'a lost-for-words' Franklin Cudjoe of IMANI, a policy think-tank said the announcement by the deputy minister was akin to 'announcing the results of a forensic audit of people killed illegally without exhuming the body.'

It is like a 'jack where are your game' and a 'serious slap in the face', the policy man lamented.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline|Edwin Appiah|[email protected]