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Auditor-General Report: GH¢816.720.71 nurses hostel not pre-audited
The Auditor-General has stated that the payment of GH¢816,720.71 for the construction of nursing training hostel, teachers quarters and a 3-unit classroom block at Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region was never pre-audited.
This was contained in the Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on Capital Projects Funded through District Development Facility (DDF) in 30 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in Ghana from 2008-2018.
The report, which painted a gloomy picture of blatant disregard to laid-down procedures in state institutions, particularly with regard to payment for execution of projects, said internal auditors were sometimes made to stamp and backdate payment vouchers after payments had already been effected.
In some instances, the report noted that the requirement to pre-audit was ignored before payments are made.
“In the course of the audit, we observed that internal audit processes at the district level are disregarded thereby making them weak and undermining the control mechanism. Internal auditors are either by-passed or made to validate payment certificates without verifying the work done.”
It said even for some of the best scenarios for example, in the Asante Akyem North District Assembly, four out of fourteen payments were not audited while at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly five out of eleven of the payment vouchers were not audited before payments were made.
The report said it found out that payments made against work done on site, were made for non-executed works resulting in overpayments.
For example, it said the pavement work at the taxi station of Ho barracks was paid in full when only 50 per cent of the work was done.
In some instance, items that were specified for installation were omitted yet payments were made like the U drain around the Bibiani Police headquarters, which was not done yet paid in full.
In Prestea Huni Valley, the report said that the specified depth of the borehole at Gordon Community was 35 to 45 metres for a mechanised pump. Upon completion of the drilling, an AFRIDEV hand pump recommended for a depth of 16.6 to 30 metres was installed and therefore was not deep enough to pump out water from below 35meters when it was completed and handed over.
The contractor was paid in full for a mechanised borehole when he provided a manual hand pump borehole and the community had no water.
“We observed that MMDAs make payment for no work done due to insufficient
due diligence and familiarisation. In the individual reports, we have recommended for disallowance and surcharge of the individuals concerned.”
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
The Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has met first term Members of Parliament to strengthen cooperation between his office and newly elected legislators.
The engagement was organised to help build better working relations and improve communication within the House.
Bagbin stressed the value of open interaction and mentioned that similar sessions will later involve continuing MPs, the media and the public through televised programmes.
He reiterated the 9th Parliament’s goal of promoting openness and inclusion, describing integrity, honesty, civility and participation as key values for national progress.
He encouraged the creation of a mentorship system to allow experienced members to guide new ones.
Bagbin reflected on the growth of Ghana’s legislature over the years, noting a shift from strong partisan conduct to a more mature multiparty atmosphere.
He urged MPs to maintain their party identity while working together for development.
Present at the meeting were the Clerk to Parliament Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, the Deputy Majority Whip Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe and the Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The attention of the Ministry of the Interior has been drawn to information that the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, has survived two assassination attempts while discharging his duties to the Republic.
According to the ministry in a statement, the Director of Strategy, Research, and Communications at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Mr. Samuel Appiah Darko, mentioned the assassination attempt on Newsfile, a television station in Accra, on December 6, 2025.
He also claimed on the same programme that he had been handcuffed and beaten by 17 police personnel.
“Beyond the security implications of these claims, such dangers to personnel of accountability institutions, if true, can undermine the government’s efforts to combat corruption, which have intensified since it took office,” the ministry stated,
The Ministry has therefore taken up the matter with the seriousness it deserves with some preliminary findings on the alleged assassination attempt.
The ministry revealed that initial contacts with Mr. Kissi Agyebeng have revealed that the assassination attempts on him, as claimed, happened before this year.
“There is no record or report of such threats against his life at any police station or at any of the state security agencies in the country,” the statement further added.
Against this backdrop, the Minister of Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has further directed that “Since crime does not expire, the Ministry has ordered a full-scale investigation into the claim of assassination attempts.”
The Ministry has also ordered an investigation into the claim by Mr. Samuel Appiah Darko that he was handcuffed and beaten by 17 police personnel.
The Ministry noted that it will update the public on the outcome of these investigations and the actions to be taken.
The Ministry of Interior has reiterated its commitment to protecting all lives and properties to ensure that all Ghanaians can conduct their lawful affairs without any fear for their safety.
