General News of Wednesday, 12 July 2006

Source: GNA

Probe NPP serial callers trip to Germany 2006

Accra, July 12, GNA - The Minority in Parliament on Wednesday called for an independent investigation into alleged government financing of 150 serial callers of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to watch the World Cup.

It also called for investigations into the alleged preparation of document by some high government officials to procure visas for the serial callers, who were presented as "officials in a higher capacity than the reality."

Mr Abuga Pele, Minority Spokesman on Sports made the call at a press conference in Accra.

He said the allegations were serious and the Minority's call for enquiry was to established the culpability or otherwise of the officials involved.

He said the outstanding success of the Black Star should not make the country "lose sight of the need to ensure probity and accountability particularly in government in order to lay a firm foundation for development."

He cited for instance that Italy emerged the World Cup champion during the FIFA World Cup 2006 but that had not blinded the authorities to discipline leading clubs like Juventus and some leading football personalities for corrupt behaviour.