GH mission in Zambia: Ex-accounting officer to cough up GHc1m cash

In Zambia, a former Accounting Officer at Ghana's mission in Lusaka, is to cough up an amount of GHc1, 191,481.08 which comprises an amount of over GHc720,000 belonging to the mission he allegedly misappropriated as well as GHc468,000 in surcharge.

According to the Auditor-General's report, the Accounting Officer, Mr. Thomas A. Amoak as of December 2014, had misappropriated an amount of US$160,640.00 and €29,332.00, the cedi equivalent of GH¢723,425.06, contrary to Regulation 2 of Financial Administration Regulation, 2004 L.I.1802.

“In exercising his powers on disallowance and surcharge, the Auditor General disallowed the US$160,640.00 and €29,332.00 misappropriated. Mr. Amoak was also surcharged an amount of GH¢468,056.02 bringing the total amount to be refunded to GH¢1,191,481.08,” the Auditor-General stated in a special audit report on disallowance and surcharge as at November 30, 2018.

Ghana mission in Angola: Accounting Officer embezzles €64,655.00 and US$87,534.00

The audit report also revealed that Ghana lost an equivalent to GH¢531,616.75 allegedly embezzled by a former Accounting Officer of the country's mission in  Luanda, Angola.

“We noted during the audit of the accounts of Ghana Mission in Luanda, Angola, for the period June 2012 to 31 December 2014 that Mr. King Pratt Ainooson, the Accounting Officer of the Mission, embezzled €64,655.00 and US$87,534.00, equivalent to GH¢531,616.75 contrary to Regulation 2 of Financial Administration Regulation, 2004, L.I. 1802.”

The audit report said Mr. Pratt admitted the offence and signed an undertaking on 9 December 2014 to refund the embezzled amount in monthly installments of €3,500.00. 13.

“The Auditor General disallowed GH¢531,616.75 being the principal amount embezzled and in addition he was surcharged GH¢343,956.04 bringing the total amount for refund to GH¢875,572.79,” the audit report added.

Accountant hot for embezzling Registrar General's $163,000

Also, a former principal Accountant at the Registrar General's Department is in hot waters for allegedly defrauding the State by over US$163,510.00.

Mr. Tahiru Haruna, according to the Auditor-General's report, transferred the amount from the Registrar General's account into his private account in 2014 contrary to the country's financial regulations.

“Our audit of the accounts of the Registrar General's Department for the period ended 31st December 2014, disclosed that Mr. Tahiru Haruna, Principal Accountant, transferred US$163,510.00 from the Departmental Account into his private account, thereby defrauding the state of $163,510.00 contrary to Regulation 2 of the Financial Administration Regulations, 2004 (L.I. 1802)” the Auditor-General's department stated in a special audit report on disallowance and surcharge as at November 30, 2018.

For his punishment Mr. Haruna per the report has been surcharged $30,877.50 for the amount allegedly embezzled.

“The Auditor-General, in the exercise of his powers, surcharged Mr. Tahiru Haruna an amount of US$30,877.50 an equivalent of GH¢129,685.50 for the amount embezzled.”

He is to pay the said amount into the Consolidated Fund through Registrar General Department's accounts, but no timelines were given for the payments.

Ghana lost GHc40 billion in between 2003 and 2014

Ghana continues to lose millions of monies in financial irregularities and embezzlement perpetuated by officials employed in the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

A study conducted by pressure group, Occupy Ghana on reports of the Auditor General revealed that the Ghana between 2003 and 2014, lost over GHc40 billion due to “irregularities” arising from Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

---citinewsroom