Muntaka matter is laid to rest. For now.

And as ever the cartoonists have had their say. The Daily Guide has one called Akosua, perhaps the most notorious of them all. This is what he/she did to Muntaka.

Goodness gracious. I don't wanna be Muntaka at this moment. No, I do not!

Meantime former Youth and Sports Minister Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak would for a while remain tight-lipped over circumstances surrounding investigations on him and his eventual resignation.

The former minister told Joy FM (in Accra) that he has been asked not to speak to the media about the issue any longer.

Although he would not disclose the source of that admonition, sources close to the minister believe his lawyers must have advised as such.

I think that's good and sound advice.

Alhaji Muntaka, is said to have met with the Ashanti Regional executives of the NDC to apologise for the havoc his sympathisers are said to have caused at the regional headquarters.

Constituency executives have resigned after demonstrating against the minister’s resignation.

They claim Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, who resigned shortly before the findings of an investigative report into his irregular expenses were made public was compelled to quit.

Charges were not levelled against him - lucky man.

Alhaji Muntaka was asked by the president to step aside to allow for investigations to be launched into allegations of financial malfeasance brought against him.

The Chief Accountant at the Sports Ministry, Adim Odoom, chronicled a 10+ point charge against the minister.

The president subsequently appointed a Minister of State and MP for Wa Central, Abdul-Rashid Puelpo to act as Sports Minister.

I'll tell you what I think of Mr Puelpo later - I met him on Monday and I'm still making my mind about what to think of him.

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Muntaka matter: update

Former Asante Kotoko chairman Herbert Mensah has emerged as a candidate for the Sports Ministry portfolio after embattled Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed was asked to proceed on leave.

Herbert scored high marks as a football administrator during his stints with Asante Kotoko from 1999-2002.

Former Minister E.T Mensah and ace Sports Journalist Kwabena Yeboah have also been linked in media with the job.

Mensah is credited with the transformation of Kotoko when he took charge in 1999 with his modern trend of football administration.

Deputy Minister and ace sports commentator Nii Nortey Duah has been in an acting capacity since.

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Muntaka matter: update

Myjoyonline - Youth and Sports Minister, Muntaka Mubarak, is optimistic that ongoing investigations into corruption allegations against him will prove him innocent.

President Mills asked Mr. Mubarak to step aside to allow for investigations that he has engaged in financial impropriety relating to irregular expense claims.

In his first radio interview to respond to the allegations, made by the Principal Accountant at the Youth and Sports Ministry, Mr Adim Odoom, Mr. Mubarak told Joy FM Super Morning show host Kojo Oppong Nkrumah that most of the allegations had been fabricated to discredit him.

“Come what may if investigations are done thoroughly, I am definitely going to be exonerated.

“I have not made request for any of these monies and I have not signed for any of these monies.”

Speaking in a confident-tone, Alhaji Mubarak said investigations into the matter would definitely exonerate him.

President Mills has directed the National Security Coordinator to investigate the allegations leveled against the Sports Minister.

Presidential Spokesperson Mahama Ayarigah told Joy FM the investigations should shed some more light on the matter.

"The president has responsibility for the minister’s conduct. He has to take action if the conduct is proven,” he indicated.

The Asewasi Member of Parliament has in earlier interviews with the media described the development as a setup by a clique of persons working at his office to malign him.
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Muntaka matter: update

Following the media frenzy after reports that Ghana's sports minister has embezzled some state funds, the police have started moving in.

After my last post yesterday, I started getting info that about 20 police personnel stormed the offices of the Youth and Sports Ministry in Accra.

The Minister has denied any wrong doing in a catalogue of accusations by the ministry's Principal Accountant, Adim Odoom.

Following the police presence at the ministry, rumours have been rife particularly in Accra, that Mr. Odoom and the Chief Director, Mr. Albert Kwadwo Ampong, were arrested in a swoop.

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Update in Muntaka's matter: he denies it while someone says it's classic déjà vu

The news in this case is coming thick and fast.

* The sports minister, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak has squelched reports that he has embezzled state monies in a five page document. Details here.

* Meanwhile, do you remember the former minister of sports who was jailed shortly after the New Patriotic Party came to power in 2001?

* Right, he has said that Muntaka was framed!

* Anyway some of you may recall that Mallam Issa was freed by presidential pardon in 2003.

* In all the talk, the Presidency denies sacking the embattled Muntaka.

ps: I'm becoming antsy because I have tried to upload pictures of the man in question but my picture uploading system is just not working.

So, you can see Muntaka's picture here and Mallam Issa's here.
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11 facts about the Muntaka matter

The damning news that slowly came out last night was Ghana's President Professor John Evans Mills is asking questions of his sports minister.

It's a bit winding but let me break it into pointers.

1. The President has told the Minister of Sports, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, to present a detailed written response to some alleged financial mismanagement he has been involved in at his ministry.

2. Sources say that the Principal Accountant at the Sport Ministry, Mr Adim Odoom, roll called a tediously lengthy list of requests made by the minister since assuming office three months ago.

3. The minister is said to have demanded monies amounting to several thousands of Ghana cedis in lieu of expenses made on behalf of the Black Stars. He allegedly made requests for monies for unofficial expenses.

4. Muntaka is also said to have travelled with his girlfriend to the finals of the CHAN tournament played early February in Abidjan and charged the cost to his ministry, contrary to advice from his office.

5. The document also cites the minister as allegedly taking $2000 as imprest to cater for hotel bills and other expenses at the tournament but made the imprest holder of the Sports Ministry pay for the expenses.

6. According to the document, while the minister claimed top guns of the NDC government had paid $10,000 as landing charges for the aircraft which conveyed government officials to the CHAN, he turned round to demand a refund of the amount from the ministry.

7. “The accountant released the money ($10,000) to him through the Chief Director. The minister could not produce receipt to date,” the report claimed.

8. The report also said that the minister had taken per diem of GH¢2,000 (just under $2000) for the Ghana-Benin match in Kumasi “though he was told that his maximum per diem entitlement was GH¢1,120 [just under $1000]."

9. The document said Mr Mubarak had signed a covering letter to the Ministry of Finance demanding the release GH¢1,410,051.58 [just under $900k] to the National Sports Council (NSC) when the Office of the Chief of Staff had not been consulted.

10. The report also mentioned the minister to have personally arranged accommodation and feeding expenses of the Black Stars players and officials in Kenya and Sudan in pre-match campings, without the involvement of any other official of the his ministry.

11. The last charge in the six point report claimed the Hon Mubarak had requested a refund of GH¢674.02 [about $500] as expenses for baby oil, baby food and other household items although he was advised against such requests.

Facts from MyJoyline