Claims of stolen ¢12bn is a playback of 2008’s crass but well-crafted, effective mischief – Gabby
A leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Otchere Darko, has asked the Auditor General to break its silence on claims that its 2020 report revealed that some GHS12 billion has been stolen.
Gabby expressed concerns as to why the Auditor Service has not spoken on this matter because in his in views, it is a falsehood being spread.
“Will the Ghana Audit Service continue with their remarkably loud silence, leaving the NDC to continue spreading the serious lie that some GHS12 billion has been stolen according to the 2020 Auditor General’s report?” the former Executive Director of the Danquah Institute questioned.
He added “A playback of 2008’s crass but well-crafted, effective mischief.”
The Auditor General had revealed in its report that total amount of ¢12.85 billion irregularities equivalent of $918.28 million was committed in 2020 by public boards, corporations and other statutory institutions.
This is a revelation by the 2020 Auditor General Report.
According to the report, the irregularities include outstanding debtors, cash irregularities, payroll irregularities, tax irregularities, procurement irregularities, stores irregularities and contract irregularities.
From the report, the total irregularities figure of ¢718.08 million in 2016 increased to ¢12.002 billion in 2017. The irregularities declined by ¢8.99 billion in 2018 to ¢3.007 billion.
However, the total irregularities increased by 81.8% from the 2018 figure of ¢3.007 billion to ¢5.46 billion in 2019.
Contract irregularities also accounted for GHS89.8 million out of the total sum of GHS12.8 billion.
“The total irregularities stood at GH¢12,856,172,626 which included US$918,285,771.95 converted into Cedis at the prevailing exchange rate of GH¢5.7602 to the US$1 as at 31 December 2020, and €647,815.00 converted into Cedis at the prevailing exchange rate of GHS7.0643 to €1 as at 31 December 2020 and 464, 963.13 converted into Cedis at the prevailing exchange rate of GHS7.8742 to £1 as at 31 December 2020.”
“The total irregularities figure of GH¢718,085,208 for 2016 increased to GH¢12,002,880,339 in 2017. The irregularities declined by GH¢8,995,621,415 in 2018 to GH¢3,007,258,924. However, the total irregularities increased by 81.8% from the 2018 figure of GH¢3,007,258,924 to GH¢5,468,398,431 in 2019.
“During the period ending 31 December 2020 the total irregularities recorded a 135% or GH¢7,387,774,195 rise from GH¢5,468,334,006 in 2019 total irregularities figure to GH¢12,856,172,626 in 2020.
This was occasioned mainly by a surge of GH¢5,207,442,576 or 107% in outstanding debtors/loans/recoverable component of the total irregularities for the period ending 31 December 2020,” the report added.
Source: 3news
