Judgement Debt Commission begins public sitting Wed

The Commission of Enquiry, which was established by President John Dramani Mahama to enquire into judgment debt payments and other related matters, will begin public sittings on Wednesday.

The Commission, created by Constitutional Instrument (CI) 79, has a period of 12 months beginning 8th October 2012 to submit its report to the Presidency.

According to a statement issued by the Commission, the maiden public sitting will take place at the Old Parliament House Building in Accra, opposite the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, and be transmitted live by the state broadcaster, GTV.

The Sole Commissioner of the Commission is His Lordship Justice Yaw Appau, a Justice of the Court of Appeal.

Mr. Dometi Kofi Sorkpor will serve as Counsel to the Commission. He will be assisted by Mr. Kwabena Owusu Mensah.

The Commission’s Terms of Reference (TOR) are:

a) To ascertain the causes of any inordinate payments made from public funds in satisfaction of judgment debts since the 1992 Constitution came into force;

b) To ascertain the causes of any inordinate payments from public funds and financial losses arising from arbitration awards, negotiated settlements and akin processes since the 1992 Constitution came into force; and

c) To make recommendations to the Government for ensuring that, as far as practicable:

i. The instances where public funds are utilised to make payments in satisfaction of judgment debts and public debts arising from akin processes are limited;

ii. Government does not incur undue financial losses when it does business with private persons or institutions.

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