Ampem Step Aside

A damning report of a preliminary investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) into the affairs of Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation (GBC) which is yet to bounce to the fore has made very damaging findings about the management of the corporation, which is compounding the already perilous situation of the state broadcaster.

The SFO says its investigations covered five issues namely : Causing financial loss to the state to the tune of £24,516.65 ,A Euro 230,000 agreement between Optima Sports Management International (OSMI) and GBC and circumstances leading to a litigation between the two.

The other areas covered include: Abuse of the use of Barter system to procure goods and Services for GBC, The payment of about GH¢40,00 personal legal fees of Mr. Loius Darko, Divisional Union Chairman of GBC, The Payment of 20% commission on the collection of GH¢857,115.80 from the CAN 2008 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) as well as the Construction of GH¢164,059.88 GBC clinic.

According to sources at the SFO, they have gathered significant information and are on solid grounds to pursue full scale investigations into the issues raised above many of which has affected the GBC boss.

The Serious Fraud Office, which is revving for full scale investigations, has therefore asked the Director General of the GBC, Mr. Ampem Darko who has been affected by the by the initial to step aside, to allow the office and potential staff witnesses who have shown signs of shiver with the presence of the DG in office to continue investigations without hindrance.

“In order not to impede the process of investigations, it is necessary for Mr. Ampem Darko to to Step Aside while the process is ongoing. The DG is feared at GBC. His absence will therefore provide a congenial atmosphere for witnesses at GBC to freely provide evidence without fear of intimidation” a source familiar with the SFO investigation said.

The SFO is also asking Messrs Oscar Nchor, Director of Technical production, Augustus Yamson, Director of Engineering and Chief Engineer/Transmission to be interdicted the GBC Board. In May 2003, Dr. Wereko Brobbey, stepped aside to allow a Committee of Enquiry investigating allegations against his office to continue uninhibited. Whilst stepping aside Dr. Wereko Brobbey said “"I have taken this decision to ensure that the committee has an absolutely free hand to undertake its work and to remove any doubts, whatsoever, as to the placement of any impediments in the way of the committee or any other witness who may be called to appear before it,"

Two Minister namely, Dr. Sipa Yankey, Ex-Minister for Health and ………. also stepped aside in the wake of unproven allegations of bribery in the M&J matter to allow CHRAJ to conclude its investigations and to clear his good name. But in the case of the DG of GBC, he was allowed to stay in office whilst preliminary investigations were ongoing. Unfortunately, he has been affected by the initial findings compelling the SFO to ask for him to step aside.

PART 1: £24,516.65 FINANCIAL LOSS

In the case of the alleged financial loss of £24,516.65, the SFO’s says its preliminary probe suggests that in September, 2008, GBC made a request to the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to purchase three radio transmitters from Sound Broadcast Services (SBS) UK at the cost of £81,722.16 According to sources, on the advice of GBC, government made a 30% down payment representing £24,516.65 to SBS on November 3, 2008 without a purchase order. “Although it was argued that the issue of Purchase Order was irrelevant once there was evidence of payment and receipt, upon the insistence of SBS a Purchase Order was raised and faxed on January 21, 2009, two months after payment was effected” the source.

The SFO indicates that according to Ampem Darko, once the 30% down payment was made, delivery of the transmitters should have been made by the end of December, 2008.

As things turned out, the Purchase Order which formed the basis of the contract was prepared and faxed to SBS on January 21, 2009 by the Chief Engineer/Transmission, Mr. Eric Odonker who was sourced to the invoice. Sources further indicate that as at January 7, 2009, one Les Crompton in an email to Odonkor confirmed payment of the 30% payment. Mr. Oscar Nchor, Director Technical Production is said to have assigned himself, special responsibility of the purchase of the transmitters engaged in several communications with SBS through Mr. les Crompton ranging from the down payment to the administration of SBS.

On January 15, 2009, a company called EDDYSTONE BROADCAST informed GBC through Mr. Oscar Nchor of the liquidation of SBS effective November 19, 2008 and that EDDYSTONE BROADCAST had bought SBS and that SBS was no more.

“EDDYSTONE BROADCAST indicated that the payment of the £24,516.65 was in the name of SBS, so they EDDYSTONE have no obligation to pay” a source said. In the words of EDDYSTONE, “the advance payment of £24,516.65 made by GBC was in the name of Sound Broadcast Services Ltd and this money was lost when the company ceased trading”

According to sources at the SFO, no approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA)was sought at the time and that on the contrary “GBC sought the approval of PPA on Otober 2008 which approval was given on January 28, 2009, via a letter with reference No. PPA/CEO/111/09.

Meanwhile, the SFO contends that one day after GBC sought approval from PPA, one Mr. Nchor of GBC was already in communication with Les Compton, Group Sales Manager of SBS during which the bank details of SBS was given for the transfer of the 30% down payment.

On November 3, 2009, two months before GBC obtained approval from PPA, the 30% down payment representing £24,516.65 was wired per Controller and Accountant Gneral’s Letter No. OPU/BTA/Vol.80 to SBS which was already undergoing a liquidation.

The SFO is contending that from the Sequence of events, GBC acting through its principal officers-the DG, Director of Engineering, Director of Technical Production and Chief Engineer/Transmission –“neither followed due process nor did due diligence in the procurement of transmitters. The result is the loss of £24,516.65 to the taxpayer”