…CEO, Procurement Officer indicted by Audit Report
An internal audit report intercepted by this paper has unearthed serious financial misconduct involving senior officials at the country’s flagship health institution, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
The report, which is a final internal audit report on the hospital’s procurement operations covering the period between January 2008 and June 2009, revealed serious financial malfeasance at the hospital.
According to the report, the Procurement Unit of the Hospital, which is headed by Madam Fidelity Commey, did not go through several procurement procedures and other issues related to records and accounting of goods and services at the hospital.
“Procurement of goods, services and works amounting to the loss of GH¢807,196.67 were not routed through Procurement Unit,” the report stated under its sub-heading “Summary of Audit Findings and Recommendations.”
The audit report, signed by the Head of the Internal Audit Department of KBTH, Mrs. V. Djokoto- Barabu, also questioned the price quotation methods adopted by the hospital authorities.
According to the report, seventeen (17) companies out of twenty-five (25) that were awarded GH¢1,928,863.06 worth of contracts to supply various materials to the hospital, were without certificate of incorporation, VAT Certificate and Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC).
This situation, the report noted, cost the hospital in excess of GH¢95,920.92.
The report also stated that the hospital entered into several other contracts with individuals that did not go through due process. According to the report, the hospital contracted some five companies using the same National Competitive tendering method of procurement, where
GH¢331,728.45 was involved, adding that “Tender evaluation panel for examination of tenders and selection of four companies to supply to the tune of GH¢84,874.20 was found not well constituted.”
Interestingly, the report noted, “the hospital still has an amount of GH¢2,753,848.09 as an outstanding debt yet to be paid as result of these faultless procurement processes the CEO had carried out in respect of goods, works and services.”
However, when Today reached Mrs. Djokoto-Barabu to comment on the matter, she declined and instead directed the paper to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the hospital, Mr. Mustapha Salifu, who informed us that he has sent our questions to the Procurement Unit for the appropriate response
But, as of press time yesterday, Mr. Mustapha Salifu had not responded to our questions, only to send this to our reporter via e-mail: “Hi Freeman, I have just seen the questions you sent and I am gathering the response for you.”
STORY: KORYEKPOR AWLESU FREEMAN