Ex-Ghanair CEO Wanted Auditors To Meet Him In London

Stringent study of the Ghana Airways Forensic Audit report has revealed that ex-Chief Executive Officer of the airline, E. L. Quartey Jnr wanted the six-member team of forensic auditors to fly over to meet him in London at the tax-payers expense.

Quartey, whose stewardship of the ailing airline has become the subject of various commentaries, is himself cooling off in London since he left the executive floor of Ghana Airways.

Quartey Jnr, according to a letter from Messrs Worldwide Investments Company Limited, the company that undertook the forensic audit was to be interviewed on a number of issues including aircraft acquisition, maintenance contracts, suppliers contracts, acquisition and disbursement of loans, asset sales, guarantees for loans, establishment of escrow accounts, fleet expansion, royalties from KLM and Swissair and issues pertaining to the management of Ghana Airways.

In a letter to the forensic auditors dated September 6, 2002, Messrs Mishcon de Reya, Quartey Jnr’s London-based solicitors said among others

''…In view of Mr Quartey’s present family circumstances, the unfair and malicious press he has been subjected to … and our inability to visit Ghana at present, we have consistently advised Mr Quartey to meet your team in the UK …Your point about movement of documents and files is noted. However we feel it would be feasible for Ghana Airways to convey your material''.

On the demand by the Auditors that they will want Quartey Jnr to meet them in the presence of Ghanair Staff, the solicitors said they did not believe it would assist or contribute to the effectiveness of any interview if other staff were present.

Another letter from Bentsi-Enchill and Letsa, local solicitors of Quartey said his present commitments outside the country maybe impossible for him to be in Ghana before 15th July, 2002. ''Our client is however willing to meet the Consultants in London at a mutually agreed time and venue''.

Mr Quartey Jnr, through his solicitors, last week wrote to the Independent newspaper which is serializing the Audit Report on Ghana Airways, saying that the Auditors failed to obtain their client’s input in the course of their investigations.