Confusion at SFO deepens

Theophilus Asharku Codjoe, former Acting Director of the Serious Fraud Office who has since his being relieved of the position by Government but refused to step aside, has confirmed that he was not appointed through the 'proper' process as enshrined in the Civil Service Charter.

He confirmed this to The Statesman in a telephone interview Monday in response to allegations made by a concerned citizen to the Board of the organisation.

According to Mr Codjoe, he was asked to take over the institution by a Chief Director at the Ministry of Finance after the then immediate acting Executive Director of the SFO was re-posted to the Internal Revenue Service.

He indicated that this was in line with normal routine postings since he was then the most senior member of staff at the SFO.

Mr Codjoe was on 9 October, 2006, ordered to desist from holding himself as the Acting Executive Director of the SFO. In a letter signed by its chairman, Justice (Rtd) N Y B Adade, the SFO Board of Directors stated: “Your functional position as an Acting Executive Director is hereby frozen, and you immediately cease to have the capacity to perform any function as Ag Executive Director”.

Mr Codjoe, The Statesman learnt, has since refused to vacate his position and still holds himself as the Executive Director of the SFO.

Francis Nii Annan Sowah, who was appointed as the new SFO boss by the President in consultation with the Public Service Commission, is yet to be sworn into office.

Mr Codjoe”s refusal to leave office provoked a “concerned citizen” to make a 22-point allegation against him. The SFO Board, acting on the said allegations, instituted investigations against the embattled Codjoe.

Yaw Preko Mensah, from Abelemkpe, Accra, wrote a 22-point critique of Mr Codjoe, who was at the time the Acting Executive Director of the SFO.

According to our sources, three staff members of SFO have so far given evidence in the investigations in response to a request by the SFO Board about a fortnight ago at a staff meeting.

Reacting to the allegations, Mr Codjoe told The Statesman that there was no iota of truth in any of them. He pointed out that the three SFO employees who went to give evidence to the Board concerning the allegations could not prove anything.

Although he accepted that his letter of appointment came from the Ministry of Finance, he argued that it was copied to the Ministry of Justice who wrote back to acknowledge it. “I was part of the team that was sworn in by then Attorney General, Ayikoi Otoo, to run affairs at the SFO,” he added.

He said his position as the Acting Executive Director is still legitimate. “The Board has asked me to continue acting as the Executive Director to hold the fort until the substantive officer takes office,” he said.

When asked whether the Board has withdrawn the letter asking him to step aside, Mr Codjoe said: “it is not necessary for the Board to do so because they have verbally told me to keep acting”.

In the 22-point allegation, a copy of which has been seen by The Statesman, the petitioner questions the legality of the appointment of Mr Codjoe as Acting Executive Director.

Other allegations made against Mr Codjoe include using SFO apparatus for his personal consultancies and to investigate persons and institutions for his private benefit and that of his friends both within and outside the SFO. This includes investigations into Lincoln School at Abelemkpe following the termination of his wife’s appointment as staff of the school.

He is also accused of compiling a “hit list” of people within the SFO who he wants “eliminated”. “So far, a number of staff have had their appointments terminated or have been forced to resign in bizarre circumstances. Many of such officers are seen by Codjoe to be friends of the immediate past Acting Executive Director,” the document notes.

“He is such an irresponsible and morally bankrupt character,” according to the allegations, and while his son has become a drug dealer, Mr Codjoe has used his position to save his son from prosecution, it is alleged.

His attitude towards work is similarly brought under fire – with Mr Codjoe accused of not holding staff meetings because he “cannot stand constructive criticism,” not responding to staff petitions, and traveling abroad without informing his colleagues.

“Comparing the current administration with that of the immediate past, one can emphatically conclude that the current administration is one without direction,” the document ends.

Mr Codjoe insists the investigations at Lincoln School had nothing to do with his wife. “We had information that they were evading tax and when an investigation was conducted it turned out to be true. $300 was paid to the IRS as a result of that information,” he said.

He said his son had been out of the country since 1999 and has never engaged in any drug related offense. “Are they saying I have been using my authority to influence the law in the USA”, he questioned.

A member of staff at the SFO who spoke to The Statesman on condition of anonymity expressed concerned at the way things were going. He said employees at the SFO are confused as they do not know who the real head is anymore.

“Currently, we have three heads, namely, the Board Chairman, the newly appointed but yet to be sworn in Executive Director, Mr Sowah, and the defunct Acting Executive Director, Mr Codjoe, who is seriously scheming to be retained despite an earlier letter to do otherwise,” he added.

But, some see the move as part of an ongoing power struggle at the organisation set up with the express purpose of combating fraud.

Source - The Statesman