Features
ECG ‘meter-fraud’: Govt must act quickly!!!
Wikipidia defines ‘fraud’ as wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.
The synonyms for ‘fraud’ include, swindling, scam, hanky-panky, shenanigans, crookedness, embezzlement, deceit, monkey-business and rip-off.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is said to have forwarded a case docket involving an alleged $36 million procurement fraud of electric meters, to the office of the Attorney-General for prosecution.
The $36 million procurement fraud is reported to have taken place in the Republic of Ghana in 2016.
The submission of the case docket to the office of the Attorney-General follows the conclusion of over four good years of investigations into ‘the fraudulent matter’ by the EOCO and the National Security.
Many concerned Ghanaians and institutions have questioned the long delay in the investigations and prosecution of officials involved in the ‘procurement fraud’.
The fraud was alleged to have ‘germinated’ in September 2016 when L&R Investments and Trading Company, which is incorporated in China, entered into a contract with the Government of Ghana, to supply electric meters to the Electricity Company of Ghana. Reportedly, the contract was to be executed within a period of 26 weeks, and an advanced payment of $12 million was made to L&R Investments plus a Letter of Credit for $24 million.
The 2020 Auditor-General’s Report on state-owned institutions, however, revealed that the meters, which were procured at a huge cost to the state, were abandoned by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) because they were not manufactured to meet the required specifications.
A brief background of the fraudulent deal dates back to September 2016, when the then Ministry of Power wrote to the Managing Director of the ECG , alerting him of a-$40-million financing, secured by the Government of Ghana for the procurement of electric meters.
Reportedly, the letter named Messrs L&R Investments, whose local representatives are Messrs First Grace Limited, to be given the contract to supply the meters.
The ECG management, upon the receipt of the letter from the Ministry of Power engaged Messrs L&R Investments and their local Ghanaian representatives. After ECG had evaluated the proposals from L&R Investments, a pre-contract meeting was said to have been held in October 2016 between the technical team of ECG and the Managing Director of L&R Investments Company. Reportedly, at that meeting, the scope of supply; technical classifications; due diligence; pilot studies; factory acceptance tests and training of ECG metering staff were agreed upon.
Indeed, the two key conditions before the supply of the meters after signing the contract were; the pilot studies to assess the meters for two months and the factory acceptance tests. Sources, however, say :”The 200 electric meters that were to be provided as samples for the pilot studies were not taken to the ECG and the agreed travel of three representatives from ECG to undertake the factory acceptance tests in China before manufacturing of the said meters , did not take place.”
The Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Policies and Research (INSTEPR), Mr Kwadwo Poku, insists that; “without any of these conditions being met, the management of ECG was sent shipping documents for containers of meters at the Tema Port.” Expectedly, the ECG management notified L&R Investments that they could not accept the meters because the processes agreed upon per the contract had not been followed.
Disturbingly, the meters in the containers were not the specifications as per the supply contract, when the containers were cleared at the Tema Port. According to the Executive Director of INSTEPR, the contract was terminated in 2017 after legal consultations but strangely, the company was able to discount the $24 million Letters of Credit given to them under the contract. “We have sighted documents that state that on the 16th of August 2017, at a time when Capital Bank had ceased to be a bank under the laws of Ghana; Capital Bank discounted the Letters of Credit and made a payment of $22.5 million to L&R Investments”, the Executive Director of INSTEPR, has said.
For instance, Mr. Kwadwo Poku is asking the following relevant questions: “Why has it taken four years for the state security agencies in investigating this transaction? “Who are the people behind L&R Investments and Trading Company in Ghana? “The initial $12 million was paid to First Grace Limited, their local representatives in Ghana.
Who are the people behind the Ghanaian company? “Why is the management of Capital Bank not being prosecuted for the illegal discounting of the Letters of Credit?” Readers, the initial investigation into the fraudulent electric meter-deal was reportedly carried out by Kroll and Associates; a corporate investigations and risk consulting firm contracted by the government to investigate various transactions under former President Mahama’s administration.
Readers, remember? How Mr Yao Domelovo, the immediate past Auditor-General was angered by the audits of Kroll and Associates, sanctioned by the then Senior Minister, Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo ? The $36 million fraudulent deal was among other deals uncovered by Kroll and Associates.
A lot of well-meaning Ghanaians, however, hold the view that our government has been ‘very slow’ in taking action about this very disturbing fraudulent act. And this column challenges the government to quickly do the needful!!! Contact email/ WhatsApp of author: asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)
By G. Frank Asmah
In a country like ours in which we are aware of our challenges, all that is required is focusing on strengthening our institutional processes by making them more robust and transparent. In this regard, investment in digitilisation must be prioritised since the human element to cut corners is inherent in the psyche of some people and therefore cannot be trusted to do the right things out of their own volition.
Enforcement of existing laws and regulations must be reviewed to see what is working, which ones have to be tweaked to be able to address current challenges, and those that have become obsolete and must be discarded.
One issue that needs to be given priority attention is remuneration. A former President is alleged to declare that we pretend to pay workers and they also pretend to work. This indeed sums up the quandary facing government after government. Workers’ salaries are crucial in the fight against corruption. A realistic living wage must be given to workers; otherwise, they will seek avenues to address their personal budget deficit.
On day one, what should engage the attention of government is Energy, making it available and affordable. The industrialisation agenda cannot be successfully executed without power that is readily available, reliable, and affordable. Solar energy must be factored in the quest for affordable and reliable power for industry.
The fuel sector issues must be urgently addressed so that it can impact positively on the transportation sector, which plays a key role in the supply of goods and services. The railway infrastructure plan linking places like Boankra Inland Port to prolong the lifespan of our roads and to fast track distribution of goods from the Capital City to the inland areas of the country should be a top priority item.
A well-structured system linking industry to academia must be quickly established to serve as a catalyst towards the industrialisation drive. Research findings from the universities must be channelled to captains of industry in a timely manner. Effective channels of communication should be established to facilitate shorter product-to-market times.
An effective mechanism for fishing out needy but talented children must be established, as well as a sponsorship package for talented individuals who are needed for certain critical areas of the economy — what I term critical investment in education.
Certain changes must be made in the constitution, particularly the appointment of the heads of certain constitutional bodies or institutions. This is to ensure that the Executive arm of government does not wield too much power to ensure accountability and checks and balances really work.
The Attorney General’s Office must be detached from the Executive arm of government. The Nolle Prosequi provision must also be amended to compel the Attorney General to give an explanation of why he or she is declining to prosecute a particular case or discontinue it. The provision that protects sitting Presidents from prosecution must also be reviewed.
The punishment for some of our laws needs a review. We must review the removal of CJ provision to ensure the independence of the Judiciary.
Above all, there must be a mindset of change, i.e., a paradigm shift from inability to capability. Inferiority complex must give way to a pacesetters mentality, and all will be well. God bless.
NB: KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
BY LAUD KISSI-MENSAH
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Features
The impact of emotional surgery and emotional elysium on neurological and neurosurgical procedures
Abstract
THIS comprehensive review aims to explore the impact of emotional surgery and emotional elysium on neurological and neurosurgical procedures. We examine the scientific literature on these approaches, including their definitions, theoretical frameworks, and applications. Our analysis highlights the potential benefits and risks of these approaches and discusses their implications for practice.
Introduction
Neurological and neurosurgical procedures are complex and delicate, requiring precision and accuracy to achieve optimal outcomes. Emotional surgery and emotional elysium are two innovative approaches that have the potential to enhance the success of these procedures. Emotional surgery involves the use of art and other creative techniques to promote relaxation and reduce stress, while emotional elysium focuses on cultivating positive emotions and promoting emotional well-being.
The Role of Emotional Surgery in Neurological and Neurosurgical Procedures
Emotional surgery has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety and stress in patients undergoing neurological and neurosurgical procedures. By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, emotional surgery can help patients prepare for procedures, leading to improved outcomes and faster recovery times.
The Role of Emotional Elysium in Neurological and Neurosurgical Procedures
Emotional elysium has been shown to be effective in promoting emotional balance and resilience in patients undergoing neurological and neurosurgical procedures. By cultivating positive emotions and promoting emotional well-being, emotional elysium can help patients cope with the stress and trauma associated with these procedures, leading to improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life.
Benefits of Emotional Surgery and Emotional Elysium
The benefits of emotional surgery and emotional elysium in neurological and neurosurgical procedures are numerous. These approaches can:
- Reduce anxiety and stress: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium can help patients manage anxiety and stress, leading to improved outcomes and faster recovery times.
- Improve emotional regulation: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium can help patients regulate their emotions, leading to improved mental health and well-being.
- Enhance patient experience: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium can improve the patient experience, leading to increased satisfaction and improved outcomes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, emotional surgery and emotional elysium are two innovative approaches that have the potential to enhance the success of neurological and neurosurgical procedures. By reducing anxiety and stress, promoting emotional balance and resilience, and improving patient experience, these approaches can lead to improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for patients undergoing these procedures.
Recommendations
- Further research is needed: More research is needed to fully understand the benefits and risks of emotional surgery and emotional elysium in neurological and neurosurgical procedures.
- Integration into practice: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium should be considered for integration into practice, as they may offer a valuable tool in the treatment of a range of neurological and neurosurgical conditions.
By exploring innovative approaches like emotional surgery and emotional elysium, we can improve patient outcomes and enhance the quality of life for individuals undergoing neurological and neurosurgical procedures.
BY ROBERT EKOW GRIMMOND-THOMPSON
