Asabee reacts to Information Ministry's audit report

Former Minister for Information Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng has responded to some issues raised in the 2008 audit report on the Ministry of Information which suggests that some 15 billion cedis of the Tema Oil Refinery debt recovery fund was misspent under the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration under a project called the communications strategy which formed certain groups to defend the government through the media, especially on radio.

Sections of the said 2008 audit report on the Ministry of Information as reported by the Enquirer newspaper stated that Section 6(1) of the Debt Recovery (Tema Oil Refinery) Fund Act, 2003 states that “The monies assigned to the Fund shall only be disbursed for the purpose of payment of debt incurred by the Tema Oil Refinery Company and any interest accruing on those basis.”

Commending the Chief Director of the Ministry for accepting to grant him an extension of time from January 29, 2010 until February 10, 2010 to submit his responses, Mr Asamoah Boateng argued on the other hand that “admittedly, the time is still too short to enable me consult with officials that worked with me; retrieve and cross-check relevant documentation; and write back in response since I am no more in an official capacity to do so speedily”.

In the face of this challenge, the former Minister willingly responded to queries raised in the report, however expressing worries about the fact that his input was being sought after the audit report has been completed.