TIG Post

Tag: Auditor General

  • Audit report uncover cases of payment for no work done

    The Performance Audit Report on Capital Projects funded through District Development Facilities in 30 Districts Assemblies compiled by the Auditor-General has uncovered cases of payment for no work done.

    Findings of the Audit Report on payment and work done showed that monies were disbursed for non-executed works resulting in overpayments.

    “For example, the pavement for work at the taxi station of Ho barracks was paid in full when only 50 per cent of the work was done. In some instance, items that were specified for installation were omitted yet payments were made like the U drain around the Bibiani District Police Headquarters, which was not done yet paid in full,” it noted.

    The report said in Prestea Huni Valley, the specified depth of the borehole at Gordon Community was 35 to 45 metres for a Mechanised pump however investigations revealed that the depth was not up to that.

    “Upon completion of the drilling, an AFRIDEV hand pump recommended for a depth of 16.6 to 30 metres was installed and therefore was not deep enough to pump out water from below 35meter when it was completed and handed over,” it said.

    The report said the contractor was paid in full for a mechanised borehole when he provided a manual hand pump borehole and the community had no water. “We observed that Assemblies make payment for no work done due to insufficient due diligence and familiarisation. In the individual reports, we have recommended for disallowance and Surcharge of the individuals concerned,” it stressed.

    The report stated that the occurrences were due to a combination of lack of due diligence on the part of the District Management Team, District Works Engineer (DMEs) and familiarization between DWEs and Contractors.

    It said, “Contractors and works engineers get to familiarize with each other to the extent that a suggestion by a contractor for DWE to increase the work done beyond the actual work to cater for delayed payments are accepted and paid for.”

    The report said payment for work done except for mobilization was based on measured work at the time of preparing Interim Payment Certificate (IPC).

    It noted that the DWEs, upon request by contractors measure the amount of work done, cost it, and prepare certificates to cover the amount.

    Per the rule, it said the DMT validates the work against the IPC quantities before approval was given for payment.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Auditor-General identifies political interference in local project awards

    The Performance of Audit Report on Capital Projects funded through District Development Facilities in 30 Districts Assemblies compiled by the Auditor-General has identified political interference in project awards.

    The report on the website of the Audit Service found out that in some cases, projects were not initiated in accordance with the National Development Planning Commission Guidelines, but were based on political decisions at the local level rather than followed procedure.

    “The District Chief Executives and Members of Parliament under the guise of directives influence the type of projects, selection of contractors and siting of projects,” it said.

    “We found markets; KVIPs and some schools sited in areas far from the communities and not being used thereby defeating the purpose for which they were built”.

    The report, which was submitted to parliament, said the projects were termed priority projects and imposed on the communities thereby externally interfering to undermine the process.

    “There was the inclusion of tenders who did not purchase tender documents as it was in Bibiani and evaluation of Tenders who did not meet preliminary qualification criteria set by the Assemblies to have won and awarded contracts as in the case of Awutu Senya District in the award of contract for a pavilion and the maternity ward,” it noted.

    It said the guidelines stipulated that districts undertook development projects by involving the various communities to ensure that projects undertaken were based on need rather than partisan political considerations.

    The report said, “Session 2(1a) of the National Development Planning (System) Act 1994 (Act 480), a District Planning Authority established under the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462), initiate and prepare district development plans and settlement structure plans in the manner prescribed by the Commission and ensure that the plans are prepared with the full participation of the local community”.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Auditor General identifies 366 suspected cases of personation

    The Ghana Audit Service has identified 366 suspected cases of personation by public sector employees.

    According to its Payroll Report, it has provided the details to the heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies/Metropolitan, Municipal, District Assemblies to investigate and submit a report for further review within 3 months after the publication of this report.

    This will ascertain the authenticity of the 366 employees.

    Out of the numbers, the Ministry of Education led the pack with the highest number of employees of 261, followed by the Ministry of Health with 67.

    The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Roads and Highways, Ministry of Information and National Commission for Civic Education and Office of the Civil Service had the least numbers of one each.

    The report further said during the review of employee records on the payroll, the Audit Service suspected that some employees used the academic certificate of others to secure employment in other public institutions.

    “Our examination showed that two or more employees shared same records. This became obvious as two or more bore same names and date of birth.”

    Out of the 412 affected employees, the Audit Service follow-up to 46 sampled employees confirmed this assertion.

    It further observed that whereas 23 of them were able to prove ownership of their academic certificates 23 of them were unable to do so.

    A copy of which has been presented to the Speaker of Parliament for action

     

    Source: Class FM

  • Auditor-General submits two reports to Parliament

    The Auditor-General of Ghana, Daniel Domelovo, has submitted two reports to Parliament in accordance with Sections 13(e) and 16 of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584).

    The two reports are: Report of the Auditor-General on the Nationwide Payroll and Personnel Verification Audit as at June 2018; and Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on Sustainability of Sports Stadia in Ghana.

    A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mrs Ama Awotwe Bosumafi, Assistant Director, Public Relations, and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, said the Auditor-General used methodologies that were in line with internationally accepted standards to conduct the audits.

    It said in line with Section 23 of Act 584; “We wish to notify the public that copies of these reports are available at our website www.ghaudit.org for free download”.

    Source: GNA

  • Auditor-General found guilty for contempt

    An Accra High Court on Tuesday found Daniel Domelovo, the Auditor-General guilty of contempt in an application brought against him by the Senior Minister, Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo.

    Mr. Osafo Maafo has issued a writ challenging a surcharge on him by the Auditor General.

    The court presided over Mrs. Justice Afia Asare Botwe however cautioned and discharged Mr. Domelovo.

    The senior Minister had pressed for the contempt against Mr Domelovo for refusing to file the documents on which his office surcharged the senior Minister.

    Domelovo was required by law to have filed the documents in court within 14 days after the Minister has commenced a legal action challenging the surcharges against him.

    The court in its ruling described as untenable the reasons given by the Auditor-General that because he was writing a report to Parliament, he saw the suit against him a month after his secretary had placed it on his desk. According to the court, evidence adduced indicated that the Auditor General was properly served with the court processes and he should have done the right thing.

    Mr. Domelovo indicted the Ministry of Finance and Mr. Osafo Maafo for paying a United Kingdom Firm, Kroll and Associates Limited in 2017 to recover assets from some identified wrongdoers, among others without verifying the outcome. The Senior Minister resorted to the court saying the evidence available showed clearly that the Auditor-General erred in law and professional procedures in the exercise of his powers regarding his audit on payment of Kroll and Associate Limited.”

    According to the Senior Minister the approval for the request for single source procurement of professional services was obtained contrary to claims by the Auditor-General that they failed to seek approval from the Public Procurement Authority.

    Source: GNA

  • Auditor-General suspends collection of assets and liabilities forms

    The Office of the Auditor-General has suspended the collection of the Assets and Liabilities Declaration Forms in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.

    The Office regrets any inconvenience the suspension would cause to its stakeholders and office holders.

    A statement signed and issued by Ama Awotwe-Bosumafi, Assistant Director of the Public Relations Unit, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said it would resume the procedure as soon as the situation was normalised.

    “We advise all public office holders in the interim to ensure that all forms in their possession are completed in accordance with Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders Declaration of Assets and Disqualification Act 1998, (Act 550),” it said.

    It said the Service shall announce to the public in due course when the completed forms could be submitted and those yet to pick their forms could do so.

    Source: GNA

  • Auditor Generals auditor coming

    Parliament has constituted a three-member committee to recommend to the House the selection and appointment of an auditor to audit the accounts of the Office of the Auditor General.

    The decision to set up an ad hoc committee was taken at a sitting of Parliament yesterday following a motion tabled by Moses Anim, First Deputy Chief Whip.

    According to Mr. Anim, the decision is in line with Article 187 (15) of the 1992 Constitution.

    Deputy Majority Leader Sarah Adwoa Safo will head the committee alongside James Klutse Avedzi and Kofi Okyere-Agyekum, Members of Parliament (MPs) for Ketu North and Fanteakwa South respectively.

    Seconding the motion, the Minority Chief Whip and MP for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, said, “This is not the first time such a decision has been made by the House.” He, therefore, called on his colleagues to support the motion.

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • I have written to GETFund – Deputy Agric Minister replies Auditor-General

    Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Kennedy Osei Nyarko has responded to the letter of the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo directing him to send all his concerns to GETFund.

    Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen, Kennedy Osei Nyarko said they have equally written to GETFund for information on his inclusion in the list of undeserving scholarship beneficiaries.

    According to him, the response from the Auditor-General and GETFund will inform their decision to head to court for the issue to be settled.

    He said the court will provide the platform for all to provide evidence to their statements.

    Kennedy Osei Nyarko also questions the auditor’s inability to probe the information provided to them by GETFund to confirm whether or not the documents given them are correct.

    Auditor-General response

    The Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo, has asked the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Kennedy Osei Nyarko to head to GETFund with any concerns he has regarding the audit report.

    According to the Auditor-General, his outfit is not responsible for the list of beneficiaries of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) captured in its performance audit report.

    Mr. Domelevo instead urged Mr. Nyarko to take up any grievances he has with GETFund.

    The Akim Swedru legislator on Monday threatened to sue the Auditor-General if his name was not retracted from the list of beneficiaries of the GETFund scholarship.

    He claimed he never benefitted from a GETFund scholarship to study abroad.

    But Mr. Domelevo noted in a letter to the legislator that “every information or name that is contained in the performance audit report on GETFund came from GETFund, the audited entity.”

     

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Concentrate on Airbus scandal and leave A-G alone NPP MP fires Amidu

    Collins Owusu Amankwah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia North Constituency has advised Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu to stop poking his nose into affairs of the Auditor-General, Daniel Yaw Domelovo.

    Martin Amidu has asked politicians to stop intimidating the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo over his audit reports and allow him to do his work.

    “Ghanaians have given you a job, concentrate on it,” he said.

    Speaking to this on UTV’s late news, Tuesday, Collins Owusu Amankwah asked the Special Prosecutor to concentrate on the ‘Airbus scandal and not Domelovo’.

     

    Source: peacefmonline.com

  • Seek redress from GETFund Domelevo to Deputy Agric Minister

    The Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo has advised the Deputy Agriculture Minister, Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei, to seek redress from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) if he is unhappy with the inclusion of his name on a list of high-profile scholarship beneficiaries recently released by the Audit Service.

    The lawyers of Mr Osei gave the Auditor-General a 24-hour ultimatum to apologise to the Minister for including his name in the report which named some top government officials as beneficiaries of GETFund scholarships.

    The letter accused Mr Domelevo of being unprofessional and malicious in his work.

    Responding to the letter, the Auditor-General said: “It should be noted that the information contained in an audit report is from the audited entity, and in this instance, every information or name that is contained in the performance audit report on GETfund came from GETFund, the audited entity. Certainly, my office has no malice or bias toward any individual named as a beneficiary from GETFund in our audit report. Your grievance, therefore, is best addressed by GETFund, who provided the audit team with the necessary information and names of beneficiaries during the audit”.

    Below are details of the statement from Mr Domelevo:

    I acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 25th February 2020. Please be informed that my office did not cause to be published any “supposed list of top political figures” who are claimed to have benefitted from scholarships at the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) as alleged by you.

    My office, in consonance with article 187(2) of the 1992 Constitution and Sections 13(e) and 16 of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584), undertook a special audit at the GETFund office spanning the period 2012 to 2018 and submitted a copy of the audit report to parliament as mandated by law. And, pursuant to section 23 of Act 584. a copy of the said report is published on our website.

    It should be noted that the information contained in an audit report is from the audited entity, and in this instance, every information or name that is contained in the performance audit report on GETfund came from GETFund, the audited entity. Certainly, my office has no malice or bias toward any individual named as a beneficiary from GETFund in our audit report. Your grievance, therefore, is best addressed by GETFund who provided the audit team with the necessary information and names of beneficiaries during the audit.

  • Stop intimidating the Auditor-General – Martin Amidu to politicians

    The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has asked public officials to desist from intimidating the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo over his audit reports.

    According to him, they should stop attacking him over his professional work.

    The Auditor-General has come under intense criticism over the publication of a performance audit of the GETFund scholarship administration.

    Speaking to Citi FM, Martin Amidu said the political parties should stop intimidating heads of anti-corruption agencies in the country but rather allow them to do their professional work.

    “The political divide is both fighting anti-corruption agencies when they are doing their professional work you tag it with some political things, you can’t fight corruption by politicising it, and the two political parties will stop and allow the head of anti-corruption agencies to do their work professionally with their staff.”

    According to him, the intimidation will not allow the Auditor General to perform his duty because he may now be selective in his auditing of state institutions.

    “For instance, Audit Service there is a provision for surcharge if the Auditor General through the report of his staff can not disagree with them and therefore supports their conclusion and surcharges you, the law provides an avenue you can challenge it why personalised it to the Auditor General, that’s intimidation and makes him incapable of performing the anti-corruption duty…”

    Auditor-General to surcharge undeserving GETFund scholarship beneficiaries

    The Auditor-General has hinted of plans to disallow and surcharge undeserving GETfund scholarship beneficiaries.

    A performance audit report of the Auditor-General on the administration of scholarships by GETFund from 2012 to 2018 revealed that some politicians, lecturers and media personalities benefitted from the scheme, a policy meant for needy but brilliant students.

    The Education Minister, Mathew Opoku Prempeh is listed as studying National and International Security at Harvard University, receiving $12,800 for living expenses and $11,200 as tuition fees.

    Procurement Minister Sarah Adwoa Safo is also listed studying at the Harvard Kennedy School enjoying $12,800 in allowances with $17,004 in tuition fees.

    Dr. Armah is studying Philosophy in Education at the University of Aberdeen, which comes with a benefit of £38,400 for living expenses in addition to £33,000 for tuition fees.

    In the report, Auditor-General said they may disallow and surcharged the individuals involved.

    “The Auditor-General in accordance with article 187(7)(b) will serve the GETFund with a notice of the intention to disallow items of expenditure (the granting of scholarships) contrary to Section (2)(b) of of the GETFund Act, 2000 (Act 581) and may proceed to surcharge.”

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • GETFund audit report not to ruin reputations – Audit Service

    The Audit Service says their report on the performance of the administration of scholarships by GETFund is not to tarnish the image of anyone.

    The service said the report is to help restructure the system of administration of the fund for it to meet its core mandate.

    The Audit Service also stated that they may not disallow and surcharge individuals who can prove they have not benefited from the GETFund scholarships.

    According to the Audit Service processes leading to disallowing and surcharging will allow the said individuals to provide and prove whether or not they have actually benefited from the GETFund scholarship.

    Speaking on Citi FM after the Audit Service published a performance audit report on the administration of scholarships by GETFund from 2012 to 2018, Assistant Public Relations Officer of the service, Mr Bernard Conduah said the process will allow individuals who have complained of not benefiting from the scholarship but have been listed in the report published to provide proof to that effect.

    He also stated that the report is a wakeup call for MPs and public officials whose names have been cited in the report but did not benefit from it. According to Mr Conduah, this should prompt them that some people are using their names for illegal activities.

    Addressing the issues of the report seeking to tarnish the names of some public officials said to have benefited from the scholarship, he said the idea of the report is not to tarnish anybody’s image but rather identify the loopholes in the administration of the fund and recommend ways of curbing it.

    “What’s in the report is not meant to tarnish anyone’s image.”

     

    Concerns

    Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Kennedy Osei Nyarko has threatened to take legal action against the Auditor-General if he does not clear his name from the list of beneficiaries of the GETFund scholarship.

    The deputy minister who is also MP said: “If I can personally sponsor for the education of peoples wards both local and Abroad to further their education from my own personal resources how much more will it be difficult to sponsor my own education.”

    According to him, “this is a big gaffe coming from the Auditor General”.

     

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • GETFund scholarship: Clear my name or I’ll sue you – MP tells Auditor-General

    The Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Kennedy Osei Nyarko has threatened to take legal action against the Auditor-General if he does not clear his name from the list of beneficiaries of the GetFund scholarship.

    The deputy minister who is also the MP for said: “If I can personally sponsor for the education of peoples wards both local and Abroad to further their education from my own personal resources how much more will it be difficult to sponsor my own education.”

    According to him, “this is a big gaffe coming from the Auditor General”.

    The audit report stated that MP received a scholarship to attend the SOAS University of London, UK despite the fact that the cost was not stated.

    Speaking in an interview with Kwabena Agyapong on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5fm, he said he has never benefitted from GetFund scholarship either as MP or a deputy minister.

    It has emerged that some ministers of state have been given scholarships from the GETfund scholarship secretariat to embark on courses abroad.

    The mandate of the GETFund is to grant scholarships to brilliant but needy Ghanaians.

    But reacting to the report, the MP explained that GetFund does not only award scholarships to needy but brilliant students.

    He said the state body is also mandated to award scholarships to persons who are working in the interest of the state.

    The list including some members of parliament and deputy ministers are contained in the audited report of the auditor-general on the Getfund scholarship secretariat.

    The Dome MP and procurement minister, Adwoa Safo applied and obtained $12,800 in allowances with $17,004 in tuition fees to study at the Harvard Kennedy school.

    The Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Prince Hamidu Armah also received £38,400 for living expense in addition to £33,000 for tuition fees, While Education minister Mathew Opoku Prempeh, who listed at number 38, is receiving $12,800 for living expenses and $11,200 as tuition fees at security course at Harvard University.

    Meanwhile, GetFund has through a statement the Minister for Education Mathew Opoku Prempeh, the Procurement Minister, Sarah Adwoa Safo and the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Prince Hamidu Armah were not awarded scholarships under the current administration.

    “the aforementioned persons have not been awarded scholarships by the Fund under the current administration,” adding that its mandate was not limited to serving needy but brilliant students, in line with the GETFund Act 2000.

    “The fund may, per its mandate, also provide support for other educational activities and programmes to serve strategic national interests.”

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Auditor-General to surcharge undeserving GETFund scholarship beneficiaries

    The Auditor-General has hinted of plans to disallow and surcharge underserving GETfund scholarship beneficiaries.

    A performance audit report of the Auditor-General on the administration of scholarships by GETFund from 2012 to 2018 revealed that some politicians, lecturers and media personalities benefitted from the scheme, a policy meant for needy but brilliant students.

    The Education Minister, Mathew Opoku Prempeh is listed as studying National and International Security at Harvard University, receiving $12,800 for living expenses and $11,200 as tuition fees.

    Procurement Minister Sarah Adwoa Safo is also listed studying at the Harvard Kennedy School enjoying $12,800 in allowances with $17,004 in tuition fees.

    Dr. Armah is studying Philosophy in Education at the University of Aberdeen, which comes with a benefit of £38,400 for living expenses in addition to £33,000 for tuition fees.

    In the report, Auditor-General said they may disallow and surcharged the individuals involved.

    “The Auditor-General in accordance with article 187(7)(b) will serve the GETFund with a notice of the intention to disallow items of expenditure (the granting of scholarships) contrary to Section (2)(b) of of the GETFund Act, 2000 (Act 581) and may proceed to surcharge.”

     

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Auditor-General begs Senior Minister for more time

    Auditor-General(A-G) Daniel Yao Domelovo is pleading with the Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo for more time to access, collate and file evidence and documents he claims to have based his purported disallowance and surcharge decision on against Osafo-Maafo and four other eminent public officers.

    Mr. Domelovo has refused to file the said documents in the high court 14 days after service of the appeal filed by Mr. Osafo-Maafo and the four others contrary to the provisions of the applicable law which deems such conduct a contempt of the High Court.

    OccupyGhana hails constitutional independence of Auditor-General

    This prompted the Senior Minister and the others to comply with the law by citing the A-G for contempt of the Accra High Court. Subsequent to the publication of the contempt application, the A-G, in a letter sighted by this media platform is pleading with Mr. Osafo-Maafo and the four others for “further period of 14 days” after he has failed to comply with the law more than a month ago.

    It is yet to be known whether the Senior Minister and the four others have the power to grant the plea being made by the Auditor-General Daniel Domelovo.

    Stop EOCO from investigating me, Audit Service Auditor-General sues

    BACKGROUND

    The Auditor-General was mandated to file with the Registry of the High Court copies of all documents he was required to rely on before making a decision on disallowance and surcharge 14 days from 13th December 2019, when, according to the court registry, he was served with the said notice of Appeal.

    Based on information already in the public domain Mr. Osafo-Maafo and the four others believe that the Auditor-General could not produce any document in accordance with the provisions of Order 54A rule 5(1) within the period provided by the law because he did not have any audit working papers since if he did, he could have readily accessed and filed them within 14 days.

    Source: primenewsghana.com