THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned two government officials following allegations of mismanagement of GH¢ 8.2 million intended for the construction of household toilet facilities under the former Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources’ ‘Toilet for All’ project.
The officials, Mr Theophilus Okine of the Ministry of Defence and Mr Bright Oduro Kwarteng, Director of Finance at the Ministry of Trade and Agribusiness, were named during a committee hearing in Parliament yesterday.
The hearing followed the appearance of a delegation from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, led by the sector Minister, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim.
Mr Ibrahim told the committee that verification of the claims had been hampered because the supporting documents were sent to the National Archives by the officials involved. He further noted that despite the disbursement of mobilisation funds, no construction work had been carried out.
“The officers who handled this transaction are still serving in other ministries. The Director for Procurement was Mr Theophilus Okine, now at the Ministry of Defence. The other is Mr Bright Oduro Kwarteng, currently Director of Finance at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry,” Mr Ibrahim said.
He added that the ministry has records of the contractors and contracts, and confirmed that mobilisation funds were released, but contractors failed to commence work. Mr Ibrahim also outlined measures taken by the previous government to abrogate and re-award the contracts for execution.
Mr Samuel Atta-Mills, Ranking Member of the PAC who chaired the hearing, condemned the situation and directed that the two officials appear before the committee with the relevant documents.
“Wherever the documents are, they must be produced. Funds were paid to contractors who failed to execute the work, yet the contracts were later re-awarded to others. This must be explained,” he said.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
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