MP Denies Fraud Allegation

THE HONOURABLE NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkoranza, Mr. Hayford Francis Amoako, has been caught in the net of fraud.

Hon. Amoako's alleged fraudulent deal is linked to 100 bedsheets for which he requested the Nkoranza District Assembly (NDA) to pay ?12.108 million and had that amount charged to his Common Fund.

Chronicle investigations at Nkoranza revealed that the purchasing price per bed sheet bought by the MP for St. Theresa's Hospital at Nkoranza was ?120,000.

When auditors audited the accounts of the assembly on the disbursement of the Common Fund, they queried the voucher, estimating price per bed sheet as ?36,000.

The auditors were of the view that the deal is fraudulent.

Surprisingly, Hon. Amoako denied vehemently on Classic FM at Techiman that he had no knowledge of the purchasing of the bed sheets.

He also added that it was the District Chief Executive (DCE) and District Finance Officer (DFO) who purchased the items.

The DCE, Mr. Kwame Amporfo Twumasi, acting upon the auditor's query wrote to the MP to account for the difference of ?8.4 million, but the MP pretended that he ever arranged for the purchase of the bed sheets.

Quoting from the Hon. Amoako's letter written to NDA dated January 2, 2002, the MP stated: As a result of the urgent appeal from the management of the St. Theresa's Hospital I have agreed to donate 100 pieces of bed sheets to the Hospital the cost of which should be charged against the MP's Common Fund."

The letter, signed by the MP, had quotations from Deokash Enterprise, Kumasi for ?13.5 million, Pokant Enterprise, Kumasi, with a quotation of ?14 million and Biaa Enterprise, which quoted the least amount of ?11.2 million.

Chronicle investigations further revealed that Hon. Amoako and the supplier Biaa Enterprise went to the DFO for the amount.

A voucher with PV No. cf.2/1 dated January 2, 2002, attests to the consummation of the transaction.

A cheque number 021713 for ?12,118,000, including 7.5 per cent tax, was issued to the supplier.

Receipt No.106 from the supplier (Biaa Enterprise) was issued to the Hon. MP for Nkoranza, dated January 7,2002.

When this reporter cross-checked the payee of the cheque, it bore the name of one Kwame Baidoo, to be drawn on the Ghana Commercial Bank, Nkoranza.

The 100 bed sheets, which are still at the DFO office, waiting for collection, were also inspected.

The DCE revealed to Chronicle that the MP received ?2.5 million to purchase bulbs for Ahiayem and Abotam since January 2002, but at the time of filing this report, the bulbs had not been purchased.