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Audit uncovers GH¢966,000 financial malfeasance by former Korle-Bu managers

By Myjoyonline.com | GN
General News Audit uncovers GH966,000 financial malfeasance by former Korle-Bu managers
OCT 21, 2014 LISTEN

An audit into accounts of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has revealed former Acting Chief Executive Rev. Okpoti Botchwey, Board Chair, Eddie Annan, and others deliberately executed a grand scheme to loot the hospital's coffers.

A report of the audit, conducted by the Ghana Audit Service and intercepted by Joy News reveals various financial malfeasance by the former managers, landing Ghana's premier hospital in serious financial crisis.

According to the report, the former managers caused the loss of GH¢118,461.04 to the hospital, by appointing a non-executive member of the board, Godfred Ahianyo, to head a three-committee to audit various processes of some of the officials of the hospital.

According to the report, Mr Ahianyo's appointment, which took effect from December 2012 breached protocols.

The auditors also said Mr Ahianyo's appointment was without terms of reference.

Unapproved sitting allowances amounting to GH¢67,577.75 was also uncovered by the audit.

The Audit Service report said the Korle Bu Board unilaterally increased members' sitting allowance from GH¢1,500 to GH¢2,000 for the chairman and from GH¢1,000 to GH¢1,500 for other members.

The auditors maintained the increases in the sitting allowance were not  approved by the Finance and Health ministers as required by law.

Another instance of financial misappropriation concerned expenditure of GH¢51,096.74 as retirement package for former acting Chief Administrator of the hospital, Efua Hesse.

According to the audit report, the board breached the laws that required the Finance Minister's approval before such payments could be made.

The report has ordered Rev. Okpoti  Botchwey, Eddie Annan and Prof Hesse to refund misappropriated funds amounting to GH¢966,000.

Senior Staff Association of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in August this year hinted the hospital was facing an imminent shutdown due to what the members described as a looming financial crisis.

The association had cited among other things mismanagement of funds by the hospital boards as one of the reasons for the looming financial crisis.

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