Committee setup to investigate KNUST Hospital financial scandal

Kumasi, Nov.8, GNA - The authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in accordance with the University's internal mechanisms, is setting up a Committee of enquiry to investigate the alleged financial misconduct by some officials of the University Hospital.

Officials, who would be implicated in the scandal by the Committee, would be referred to the regular University Disciplinary Board for the necessary action to be taken.

Professor Kwesi Andam, Vice Chancellor of the University, announced this at a press conference in Kumasi in reaction to media revelation of massive financial scandal that had rocked the Hospital. He said the University would not condone any wrongdoing and that, the regulations of the University and the laws of the land would be upheld at all times.

Staffs of the University Hospital have uncovered a 400 million cedis financial scandal involving the Director, Dr J. S. Dakora and his former Secretary, Mr Kellicks Arthur.

Dr Dakora was alleged to have embezzled the amount, which was meant for the payment of additional duty hour allowance (ADHA) to the staff in the Hospital, with the connivance of the Secretary. Professor Andam explained that, following allegations of mismanagement of the ADHA payable to the staffs in the Hospital, he constituted a Committee to investigate the allegations and to come out with the facts.

In the process, it came out that, in making claims to the Government for the release of the allowance to the Hospital, there was an error, which resulted in the overpayment of an amount of 549,844,719.49 million cedis.

This amount, he said, was wrongly paid to some staff in the Hospital, resulting in overpayment and underpayment to some of the staff.

Prof. Andam said following the revelations, he directed the Finance Officer to take steps to recover the amounts involved from the overpaid staff and also pay the difference to the underpaid staff. He said the University was thus, in the process of recovering the overpayments made to some staff in the Hospital and to refund same to the Government immediately.

Professor Andam said earlier Committee had already identified some people, but declined to give the names, saying, the issue was still under investigations and the appropriate action would be taken when it was completed.

He commended the media for playing its watchdog role and said the University would work to ensure transparency and accountability.