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NSA Director General Prof Twumasi detained by police for alleged fraud
Professor Twumasi, National Sports Authority
The Director General of the National Sports Authority, Professor Peter Twumasi, has been detained at the Legon Police station for alleged involvement in fraud, Joy Sports has gathered.
Prof Twumasi reported himself to the police on Friday following the detention of his Secretary, Afia Serebour on Thursday at the same police station.
Joy Sports’ Muftawu Nabila Abdulai was at the Police station and reports that the Director General’s secretary was detained after the Chief Executive Officer of a private company, Mum and Sons, reported her and Procurement Officer Ohene Twumasi of the NSA to the police for fraud.
His statement has been taken and he’s awaiting bail.
Mum and Sons reported the NSA, its Director General, Peter Twumasi, its Procurement Officer, Ohene Twumasi, and Secretary to the Director General, Afia Serebour early this month to the police after the authority’s failure to pay for 50 hampers her company provided to the NSA in January this year.
Per details picked up by Joy Sports, Mum and Sons was engaged to provide 50 new year hampers to the authority at fee of GHC 500 per hamper, totaling GHC 25,000. However, there was no signed agreement between the two parties despite reported efforts from Mum and Sons for a signed agreement or receipt of work delivered.
Reports are that both Ohene and Afia promised the NSA would make payment within two weeks “so there was need to sign any document.”
In May this year, five months after delivering the hampers, the NSA defaulted in payment forcing Mum and Sons to report the matter to the EOCO for investigations. The investigations are EOCO were not satisfactory to the complainant as she was told payment would be made as and when the NSA has money.
The authority is reported to have later offered to pay GHC 10,000 instead of the agreed GHC 25,000 which was rejected by Mum and Sons.
In June, Mum and Sons was directed to see the accountant of the NSA for payment. It was during this period the company realised that Bobena Solutions, alleged to be the company of the Director General’s Secretary’s, Afia Serebour that was entered as the winner of the contract to provide the hampers at a cost of GHC 41,000 and not Mum and Sons.
Bobena Solutions had received GHC 15,000 part-payment. When Joy Sports contacted Afia Serebour in July this year, she cut the phone and directed us to speak to the Procurement Officer after the above details were revealed to her. Efforts to get the procurement officer proved futile as he rejected all phone calls that went through.
Per Mum and Sons, they were advised to allow payment to be made to Bobena Solutions account so that they could receive the amount due them. However, payment was not made and official complaint was filed before the Minister of Youth and Sports in September.
Prof Twumasi is reported to have told the Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif that neither he nor the NSA has a contract with Mum and Solutions, forcing Mum and Sons to report the matter to the police to have them arrested.
Invitations were extended to the trio on Wednesday, but they failed to honour the invitation same day. The Secretary went to the station with her and Lawyer on Thursday and was detained, while Prof Twumasi honoured the invite on Friday morning.
The police had earlier secured a warrant from court for their arrest.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
