General News of Tuesday, 17 January 2006

Source: GNA

CPP General Secretary cleared of allegations

Accra, Jan. 17 GNA - The Central Committee of the Convention People's Party (CPP) on Tuesday said it had accepted the report and recommendations of its special committee that cleared Professor Nii Noi Dowouna, General Secretary of the Party, of all allegations of impropriety.

Mr Sam K. Riley Poku, a legal Practitioner and Defence Minister in the Limann Administration, chaired the seven-member committee. Other members of the Committee were Madam Araba Bentsi-Enchill, First National Vice Chairperson; Madam Fati Salifu, Mr B.K. Sankyire, Mr Peter Amponsah, Mr J. B. Daniels and Mr Michael Dedey.

A statement signed by Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the CPP, said the committee was among other things, charged with the responsibility of investigating alleged misuse and abuse of funds under the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Programme for political parties.

The Committee said the self-styled Positive Action Group (PAG), which made the allegations, could not substantiate them and there was no evidence of wrongdoing by the General Secretary or any member of the Leadership.

On the allegations of misuse and abuse of IEA funds, the statement said the General Secretary gave a full account of the benefits the Party had derived from the IEA funds. It noted that but for the IEA funds the Party would have been in serious financial difficulties. "The Committee said it was unfortunate that the General Secretary, who had skilfully managed the IEA funded programmes, should be a victim of mudslinging by some Party members."