FOR THE second time in 2014, the public sitting of the Judgment Debt Commission has hit a snag after institutions billed to appear before it yesterday failed to show up.
Three institutions namely, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Ghana Revenue Authority, (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) were expected to appear to assist the commission on various issues, but none of them turned up.
Two of the institutions wrote to the commission to explain their inability to show up, but the GRA, Custom Division, despite assuring the commission earlier of their willingness to come failed to come without any explanation.
The Sole Commissioner, Justice Apau prior to adjourning the public sitting to today, described it as, �Mothers� Day Blues� and joked that its �because of the mother�s day people celebrated yesterday, (Sunday), so those who went to suck their mothers breast have not yet returned to help the commission.�
�In fact all the people we are expecting today, (yesterday), none has been able to come. Some have travelled, other things are happening. We are sorry we don�t want to waste your time so we are just adjourning so you can attend to other duties.�
When the cases were called for subsequent adjournment, Counsel of the Commission, Kofi Dometi Sokpor said MOFEP was supposed to produce documents of the sum of $1.8m dollars judgment debt it paid to Balagy Gem Last Company in a case involving Balagy and Ghana Consolidated Diamond Limited.
He said the ministry had written to the commission that the solicitor is out of the country and needs more time. It was subsequently adjourned to May 20.
On the BNI, he said due to handing over administration to the new national security coordinator by the outgoing national security coordinator, they have requested to be present on May 14. They were to appear in respect of pending cases and intention of notices to sue.
The Custom Division of GRA was to come in respect of matters relating to claims against the state and constructions pioneers against the state and the ministry of roads and highways.
Counsel said, GRA prior to yesterday�s sitting assured the commission that they will be coming, �My Lord we have not heard anything from them.� It was subsequently adjourned to May 21.
Mr. Sokpor intimated to the media in an interview that, the inability of subpoenaed persons and institutions to appear before the commission will not affect the commission�s work in any way.
He hinted of the commission�s intention to formerly write to the presidency for time extension. The commission of Inquiry was established by President John Mahama in November 2012 to investigate all judgment debts governments have paid since 1992.
The commission chaired by Justice Yaw Apau had its documents destroyed at the Old Parliament House by fire in December 19, 2013, a day after it had adjourned public sitting.
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