Looting Under Hannah Tetteh’s Watch

Indications on the ground point to the fact that the 'create, loot and share' syndrome, which has gripped the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration is not only taking place here in the country, but it is also gaining root under the watch of Hannah Tetteh -Foreign Affairs Minister in Ghana's missions abroad.

The 2014 Auditor-General's Report has revealed how Ghanaian foreign currency looters have been feeding fat on the tax-payers' money in three of Ghana's missions abroad.

The Auditor General's Report was carried out in accordance with Article 187 (2) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, which states that the Auditor General is empowered to carry out the audit of the public accounts of Ghana and to report to Parliament.

So far, the report shows that three Ghanaian Missions abroad have misappropriated Two million and eighty-one thousand, eight hundred and sixty three Ghana Cedis (GH¢2,081,863.00). The three missions are Lusaka, Luanda and Brussels.

According to the report, the three Missions either misappropriated the funds or disbursed unapproved cash in different foreign currencies.

Albeit, the report did not mention the names of persons who were culpable for the financial malfeasance at the Brussels and Ottawa missions, but it was categorical in fingering Mr. Thomas A. Amoak, Accounting Officer of the Lusaka mission and Mr. King Pratt Ainooson and Madam Mandy, as those duo who could not account for consular fees collected between April and November 2014 in Luanda.

Mr. Amoak has been fingered by the report for misappropriating a total of US$160,640 and €29,332 being revenue collected at the Lusaka Mission.

In the case of the duo at the Luanda Mission, the Report's review of cash management of the Mission revealed that a total of €64,655, US$96,094 and CFA4,435,000 all being consular fees collected for six months -between April and November -could not be accounted for by Mr. Ainooson and Madam Mandy.

In the case of the Brussels' mission, a total of €58,746.62 was disbursed without authority.

The misappropriated cash was 'swerved' out of €143,090.10 retained internally generated fund (IGF) transferred into the Retention Fund Account.

The Report noted that 32 Global Currency Reset (GCR) issued to Ottawa Mission and its Consulates could not be produced for audit inspection.

By Inusa Musah