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General News of Sunday, 11 January 2004

Source: ALFRED OGBAMEY for GYE NYAME CONCORD

Alarm Blow On Renovation At Kufuor's Private House

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  • Civil servants chop ?26m in President’s name
  • Two asked to refund ?26m but one questions directive
    PRESIDENT JOHN Agyekum Kufuor has woken up to the realisation that two civil servants who undertook the renovation of the frontal part of his ‘HIPC Junction’ Residence a little over two years ago have ‘chopped’ over ?26.4 million into his name.

    The two, Messrs S. N. A. Ahulu and Daniel Anum reportedly diverted materials worth ?17 million and ?9.3 million respectively from a total of ?50.9 million procured from the Consolidated Fund through the Public Works Department (PWD stores.

    These revelations are contained in a recent audit investigation into the construction and electrical works undertaken at the President’s Dzorwulu residence two years ago.

    Messrs Ahulu and Annum, who are the District Works Superintendent, and Statehouse and Works Superintendent respectively, have consequently been directed to refund a total of ?26,426,500 to the state without prejudice to any action that could be taken against them.

    The audit team’s investigation was conducted by the Audit Service on the authority of the Auditor General, Mr Edward Dua Agyeman on September 16-26, 2003.

    Credible information available to the Gye Nyame Concord suggests, however, that Daniel Annum, one of the two fingered for the diversion, has questioned the decision that he should be surcharged for some of the diverted materials.

    His response, together with Ahulu’s, are expected to be firmed-up in the final report soon, sources say.

    “I disapprove of the electrical findings surcharging me to refund the amount”, he reportedly wrote to his superiors on the seventh of October.

    In a follow-up letter to an earlier one, Annum, Concord gathered, filed another quiet protest note to the Auditor General on Wednesday, October 15.

    But this paper can reveal that Annum is not questioning the fact that materials were diverted. Instead, his argument is that he is not liable for the missing materials.

    Sources close to the auditors say he has suggested that his immediate boss, Mr. E. A. Quaye, should be questioned on the materials since he is the ‘paramount chief’ who should be queried and “because, though I supervised the job, he was always there to make sure all materials given were used.”