Ayariga: Muntaka could walk free

Government has given the strongest hint yet that embattled Sports Minister Muntaka Mubarak may be cleared.

Presidential spokesperson Mahama Ayariga told Joy News on Wednesday information he had gathered from sources close to National Security suggested the claims against the minister could not be substantiated.

Chief Accountant at the Sports Ministry, Adim Odoom – asked to proceed on leave – chronicled a long list of charges against the minister that suggested gross financial malfeasance and abuse of office.

President Evans Atta Mills subsequently directed an investigation into the matter and asked the minister to proceed on leave, pending the outcome of the inquiry.

A Minister of State who is also Member of Parliament for Wa, Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo was asked to act as Sports Minister amid speculations that he (Rashid Pelpuo) had been tipped to be the substantive minister should the outcome of the investigation find Alhaji Mubarak culpable of any wrong-doing.

While the report of the investigation has been presented to the president for action, Mr Ayariga intimated Alhaji Mubarak might walk free after all.

He stressed that although he has not personally sighted the report, details of it would be made public, that is, at the discretion of the president.

“I believe that the president will look at the report and when he deems it appropriate that any aspect of it should go out, he would brief me appropriately,” he told Joy News' Araba Coomson.

News of the minister's alleged acts dominated the headlines for days and generated a huge public outcry against him.

However, with the latest disclosure by the presidential spokesperson, indications are that Alhaji Mubarak would eventually be a free man.

Mr Mahama also told Joy News the reviewed report of the Mary Chinery-Hesse committee would soon be laid before Parliament to end the controversy it has been greeted with.

Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com