Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana

SOCIAL

Former District Coordinator and finance officer divert GH¢88,165

A former District Coordinator of the Sefwi Akontombra District Assemble, Patrick Rudolf Aparik and his Finance Officer Emmanuel Owusu Ansah had diverted GH¢88,165.00 into a private account belonging to the Western Region stool lands.

Date Created : 4/27/2018 6:21:58 AM : Story Author : Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

The two are said to have opened a private account at the Upper Amenfi Rural Bank between 9th June 2014 and 9th September same year.

The lost was uncovered during a post audit exercise of the Western Regional Stool Lands Administration.

This came to light during a Public hearing of the Public Account Committee ongoing at Tarkoradi in the Western Region, when Member of Parliament for Ejura Sekyere Dumasi Brimah Bawa wanted to know what management of the Assembly had done about the 2015 Auditor General’s report on the issue.

Responding to the queries at the PAC public hearing, the current Finance Officer, Mr. Sylvester Adikuloo said “management has reported the matter to the police pending the outcome of an investigation into the matter”.

Mr. Sylvester Adikuloo further revealed that there has been a meeting between the former officials who diverted funds into a private account and management.

When the MP for Ejura Sekyere Dumasi enquired about how much has so far been retrieved, the current accountant said no funds had been retrieved yet as the former finance officer told the investigative body that the funds involve had been used for Assembly purposes.

Mr. Emmanuel Owusu Ansah said he was adviced to get the necessary documents that cover the expenses the stool lands funds was used for and had handed over all the documents to his successor.

When questioned by members of the PAC as to how many accounts the Sefwi Akontombra District Assemble have, the current finance officer Mr. Adikuloo said nine accounts.