Ghana Maritime Authority management in crisis meeting over ¢10K lunch for 8 people

Management members of the Ghana Maritime Authority are locked up in a crunch marathon meeting over some leaked memos which have raised issues of conflict of interest against the Director-General, Kwame Owusu.

Mr. Owusu is alleged to have supervised the payment of various sums of money to LUXE Hotels in Accra. The Authority’s own website has publicised his responsibility in overseeing the growth of LUXE Hotels as Group Chairman.

In one instance, a memo dated 8th November 2017 was addressed to him by Rhoda Atiah, Director of Administration at the Authority, requesting Mr. Owusu to authorise the payment of Ten Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-Two Ghana Cedis, Five Pesewas (GH¢10,652.05) to Luxe Suites Hotel.

The amount, the memo said, was to cover “the cost of food supplied to the Authority during the Management meetings and stakeholders meetings on Maritime Security fees and charges at the Head Office”.

Sources say the GH¢10,652.05 was blown on just eight people, which has raised a number of questions, but 3news.com is unable to independently confirm that information.

On December 28, 2017, Ms Atiah raised another memo asking for Mr. Owusu’s approval for the payment of GH¢135,125.00 to LUXE Hotels for the cost of food, drinks and music provided for staff and protocols during end of year dinner party of the Ghana Maritime Authority on Friday, December 22, 2017.

The Authority has since the leakage of the documents not commented on the matter.

When 3News correspondent Komla Klutse reached out to the Authority for a comment on the matter, he was told management members have since Thursday morning been in a meeting deliberating on the matter.

The source close the Authority, however, did not give details on the nature of the deliberations which were still ongoing as at 3:00pm, but said the Authority will issue a statement once the meeting is over.

Meanwhile, TV3 has obtained information which suggests the cost of the lunch may have been inflated. Details of this will be live on TV3’s News360 tonight at exactly 7:00.