Tarzan explains how Gh¢ 60,000 debt ballooned into Gh¢380,534

Former Chief Executive of the Ghana@50 Secretariat, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby says the payment of Gh¢380,534 as judgment debt to JESCAN, a construction company, was justifiable.

According to Dr. Wereko-Brobby, a Gh¢1.4m contract was signed between JESCAN and the Secretariat for renovation works at the popular Independence Square to host 6th March, 2007 parade and other activities outlined for the celebration of Ghana's 50th Independence Anniversary.

Tarzan, as he also known, told the Judgment Debt Commission Monday, the payment to the construction company was justifiable because according to the terms of the contract signed, any delay in the payment for JESCAN’s services attracted a penalty.

Dr. Wereko-Brobby, who headed the Ghana@50 Secretariat, is before the Judgment Debt Commission chaired by Justice Yaw Appau after a subpoena was served on him, to answer not less than "17 specific questions" relating to payments the Secretariat made.

He told the Commission that out of the contract sum of Gh¢1.4m was left with an outstanding debt of Gh¢62,000 to be paid as at December 2008. All attempts to get the money paid proved futile forcing JESCAN to go to court to compel government to honor its financial obligation.

In the ensuing legal action, the Attorney-General failed to file a defense resulting in an award of a default judgment worth Gh¢380,354 in favour of the company.

Officials of JESCAN explained that the huge difference of over Gh¢300,00 was the interest that accrued on an Ecobank loan they contracted to finance the terms of the contract.

Tarzan blamed government for failing to pay the outstanding amount on time because there was enough money at the Presidency at that time to pay JESCAN.

He said, he wrote several fruitless letters to the Presidency requesting that the money be paid.