- Blows $19k yearly on rent
- Replaces permanent staffs with contract staffs
It is the second time in less than two weeks that the Ghana Export Promotion Authority has been exposed for procurement irregularities.
The first one is the Yaw Pare’s three (3) minutes of edited videos of various state and private institutions pieced together in GEPA documentary video which cost the taxpayers GHC 100,000.00.
Now, the Deputy CEO, Albert Diwura in charge of Administration has caused GEPA to rent a house for him at East Legon for US$ 19, 440 (GHC 93,312) per a year. An arrangement that’s reportedly netting the executive thousands of dollars.
Mr Diwura is yet to appear before the public services commission for interview as the law requires of him before he would be given his appointment letter which will show his condition of service as a Deputy CEO.
Meanwhile, Akua Asabea Asare, the Chief Executive Officer who took over from Gifty Klenam for similar infractions, has sanctioned the company to spend GHC93,312 per a year on accommodation for a man who has no appointment letter.
Just like she has done in all important and vital position in GEPA, the Chief Executive has brought in temporary staff to Head the procurement department. In the same fashion, a director for Audit has also been brought to Head the Audit department. The Auditor who has being replaced has a master’s degree in finance.
The CEO, Afua Asabea Asare have successfully replaced permanent staffs with contract staffs in all vital positions.
For instance, Ms. Hannah Aberni Tetteh, Mrs. Ruth Maafo, Mrs. Jacintha Ama Tamakloe, Robert Amoako-Hene, Emmanuel Osei Owusu, Nana Yaw Martin Forson, and George Adomako were all offered temporary employment without approval from the Public Service Commission.
Apart from spending high on a contract staffs, the net effect of such a situation is that these contract staffs cannot be resolute in insisting on the right thing being done because they know their contacts may not be renewed if they don’t heed to their Masters call, an insider told this paper.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of Finance has rejected the instruction of the Internal Auditor to pay temporary staffs contract fee.
Refusing a memorandum sent to him to pay contract fee, he said, ‘As per discussion held at the Chief Executive Officer’s secretariat on the 14 February 2019, with the Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Operations, Deputy Chief Executive Officer HR & Admin, Internal Auditor, I reiterate my position for not previously signing the contract staff fees based on existing laws, statutes and provisions that are outstanding requirements which have not been satisfied by the Authority for the payment of contact/temporary sums.
Backing his decision not to sign, he argued that:
1. There were no basis/reasons given for the fees quoted
2. There are disparities in the fees quoted
3. The Authority has no approval from the Public Service Commission (PSC)
4. The Authority has no authorization for the usage of funds from the Ministry of Finance
5. The Authority has no approved policy, hence no Board approval.
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