GH¢400,000 missing at College of Physicians and Surgeons

The Management of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons are unable to account for more than GH¢400, 000 in revenues and expenditures.

According to the 2011 Auditor General’s report, Accountants at the College of could only account for GH¢243,837 out of GH¢314,989 in revenues collected between December 2010 and January 2013 – a deficit of GH¢71,152.

The Auditor General directed the College to retrieve the GH¢71,152 deficit from the Senior Accountant, but it is unclear if that directive has been carried out.

The 2011 Audit Report also identified that GH¢181,218 internally generated funds has not been paid into the Consolidated Fund, in breach of Regulation 17(b)of the Legislative Instrument (LI) 1802 which stipulates that all non-taxed revenue be lodged into the designated Consolidated Fund transit bank account.

The Audit also revealed the College breached the Procurement Act in purchasing furniture to the tune of GH¢67,177 without a competitive tendering.

Also, an amount of GH¢160,269 allegedly used for fuel purchase could not be accounted for.

The Auditor General recommended that receipts of the expenditures be provided or the monies refunded.

In a related development Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, has directed the leadership of the house to start work on the 2011 Auditor General’s report.

Reporting from Parliament, Elton John Brobbey said the report is currently at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for scrutiny before debate begins on it.

Also, speaking at the maiden meeting of the Regional Coordinating Council in Wa, in the Upper West Region, the Regional Minister Ephraim Aveah Nsoh, said there have been reports of the public servants varying projects unnecessarily and inflating contract sums above what is legally required in some instances.

He, has therefore, warned "unscrupulous and lazy civil servants" in the region that government will no longer deal leniently with them.