The Commission of Inquiry established by the President to enquire into judgment debt payments and other related matters will start sitting on Wednesday November, 28.
The public sittings will take place at the conference room of the Old Parliament House building in Accra, opposite Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum. The first sitting would be live via GBC Television.
A statement issued by George William Dove, Public Relations Officer of the Commission said the body was established by Constitutional Instrument 79 of 2012; i.e. (C.I. 79/2012), which received gazette notification on October 8.
It has a period of one year to submit its report to the presidency.
The public sittings would begin at 1000 hours and close at 1600 hours each day (subject to variation) on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Thursdays and Fridays will be devoted to administrative work.
Members of the public who wish to testify or volunteer information to the Commission are first to report at the Commission’s office to give their statements. The Commission will then schedule a date for such witnesses to testify or give evidence.
The Commission's office is opened to the public from Monday to Friday of every week – from 0900 hours to 1600 hours.
All those who intend to testify or volunteer information but are unable to be present or in person are requested to submit memoranda to the Commission. Such memoranda shall be treated confidential.
All correspondence must be addressed to; The Sole-Commissioner, Commission on Judgment Debts, Old Parliament House, c/o P.O. Box 119, Accra.
Such correspondence should be submitted personally to the Secretary to the Commissioner at the Old Parliament House or posted by EMS to the Sole-Commissioner per the above address. It could also be sent via e-mail to jyaplaw@gmail.com.
The Commission shall soon establish an official website and when that is done, the public will be informed accordingly.
The Terms of reference of the Commission are: To ascertain the causes of any inordinate payments made from public funds in satisfaction of judgment debts since the 1992 Constitution came into force;
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 to make recommendations to the Government for ensuring that, as far as practicable; The instances where public funds are utilised to make payments in satisfaction of judgment debts and public debts arising from akin processes are limited;
Government does not incur undue financial losses when it does business with private persons or institutions.
The statement assured persons who may testify or assist the Commission in its work that their safety is guaranteed.
The Sole-Commissioner of the Commission is Mr Justice Yaw Appau, a Justice of the Court of Appeal.
The Commission has Mr Dometi Kofi Sorkpor as Counsel, who will be assisted by Mr Kwabena Owusu Mensah.