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General News of Thursday, 7 November 2002

Source: GNA

Fraud at GCAA: Minority smells gov't cover-up

The Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate reinstatement of the dissolved Ghana Civil Aviation Authority to enable it to continue its work of exposing any fraud at the authority.

They also called for the interdiction and prosecution of the top management of GCAA and all those involved in the deal and asked the Vice President to tell Ghanaians what action he took when the Board reported the matter to him.

Hon. Doe Adjaho, Minority Chief Whip said this at a press conference at Parliament House to complain about the $2.5m scandal at the GCAA.

He said following the “Daily Dispatch” publication the Minority decided to probe further the authenticity of the story and their preliminary investigations so far have been quite revealing.

Hon. Adjaho said their investigations confirmed that an amount of $2.5m was illegally paid to Messrs Skanska, which was in connection with the Phase two rehabilitation of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) (interim Payment Certificate dated 21 December, 2001).

He said the bank that honoured the said cheque was the (Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Company) HSBC Investment Bank, London and the letter was written by one S. Osei-Ansah, Acting Deputy Director-General for the Ag. Director-General addressed to the Project Director of Skanska.

Hon. Adjaho said Osei-Ansah indicated in the letter that "certain internal mechanisms put in place at GCAA before a certificate was approved for payment was not followed", and indicated inter alia," Gentlemen .This is a major issue - with one or more necks on the chopping block. I suggest we refund and avoid a storm".

Hon. Adjaho said the Board of GCAA was kept in the dark regarding this transaction but when it got wind of it the Board warned Osei-Ansah and Capt. Boachie to return the money to GCAA immediately.

According to him the board subsequently informed the Vice President about this fraudulent transaction.

He said "these findings raise interesting questions such as: Why was the Board which blew the whistle about this fraud be dissolved whilst the perpetrators are at post and why are Tsatsu Tsikata, Victor Selormey and Hon. Dan Abodakpi MP-Keta are being prosecuted for payments without authority (causing financial loss to the state) whilst the officials of GCAA and their cohorts are not".

Hon. Adjaho asked why this matter was not reported to the Minister of Roads and Transport and accused the NPP Government of covering up some people connected with the fraudulent deal.

The Minority also questioned why laid down procedures were not followed noting that the President has sworn to defend and protect the Constitution and to do justice to all manner of persons, so "we expect the President to uphold this oath.”

Hon. Adjaho said “the Minority keenly awaits the action of government in this matter and would advice itself accordingly."