Brong Ahafo RCC Director testifies at Commission

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 (Page 16)

THE former Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Francis Opoku-Boateng, yesterday told the Presidential Commission investigating the Ghana@50 Secretariat that the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) did not account to the secretariat after it was given GH¢760,000.
He, however, explained that the RCC provided details of the expenditure to the Auditor-General’s Department, which audited the Ghana@50 accounts.
Mr Opoku-Boateng told the commission that the RCC received additional 40 bails of anniversary cloths but denied an assertion that the RCC misapplied the money.
He, however, stated that 36 bails of the cloths were distributed to the municipal and district assemblies while members of staff at the RCC received the anniversary cloths for free.
He also stated that GH¢10,000 was given to each of the district assemblies while some moneys were also released to the traditional council.
Mr Opoku-Boateng, who retired with effect from Monday, August 3, 2009, told the commission that the RCC had so far realised GH¢7,500 from the sale of the cloths but added that the money had been used for other expenditures.
“The accountant said he used the money for other expenditures and is mobilising money to pay. We did not receive directive from the secretariat on what to do with the cloth,” Mr Opoku-Boateng told the commission.
Asked what those expenditures were, he said they included attending to the needs of visitors to the RCC, as well the purchase of fuel.
He further explained that the RCC would pay for the six bails of cloths left, adding that the RCC received anniversary souvenirs including T-shirts, mini flags, plastic drinking cups, calendars, among others.
He said the RCC did not sell the souvenirs because there were no price tags on them, adding that “the RCC has not paid any money to the Ghana@50 Secretariat”.
According to him, the RCC received GH¢760,000 for the celebrations and it was tasked to reconstruct the Sunyani Coronation Park, among others, adding that the balance was used to finance other projects.
He also told the commission that the RCC had paid off all contractors and further pointed out that he had a list of district assemblies which owed the secretariat.
He promised to furnish the secretariat with details of the debt profile of the assemblies.
Hearing continues today, August 5, 2009.