Doe Adjaho, Muntaka, Akomea mentioned in FDB audit report

Lawyer for Mr Agyarko, Egbert Faibaille, says he has duly sent his client’s responses to the Auditor General. An Audit Service report on the accounts of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), then headed by the former Chief Executive Emmanuel Agyarko, has further revealed several sums extended to key parliamentarians as honouraria and travel allowances. The audit report, signed by Assistant Auditor-General Roberta Quarshie, said a total of $29,150 was given to the legislators, who apparently sat on a parliamentary committee. The report mentions the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Doe Adjaho and the NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper West Akyem, Samuel Sallas Mensah, as having received $2,500 each. MP for Asawase and former Sports Minister Muntaka Mohammed reportedly received $4,000; G. Okyere, $4,000; A. Laryea-Odai, $3,000; Hon Haruna $2,000 and Hon Okyere, $2,000 (names written as they appeared in document). The report also mentioned the MP for Okaikoi South, Nana Akomea, as receiving the biggest amount ($5,250) as per diem for travelling to the UK whilst Local Government Minister Yieleh Chireh received some $3,000 in allowances. The document however indicated that the payments were not acknowledged by the alleged payees. “We were however informed by those Parliamentarians that neither they nor their authorised representatives had received any moneys from FDB,” it said. The report said the former head of accounts at the FDB told the audit team that payments made on 30 March 2007 were “received with payment schedule by the Clerk of Parliament of the committee on behalf of the select committee.” “This assertion could however not be substantiated,” it said. The document further stated that other payments made “vide PV. No. 1504371 and 1506317 were received in bulk by the head of legal (FDB) during a familiarisation visit” to two countries with the MPs. “Again, we did not sight any authority note from the intended payee authorisation the former head of Legal Unit to receive the amount on their behalf,” the document stated. Meanwhile Mr Doe Adjaho has denied ever receiving any money from the FDB. Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM, Mr Adjaho said he had never sighted the so-called audit report. He stressed that the report is a draft document and asserted that the final report will clear him of any wrongdoing. Lawyer for Mr Agyarko, Egbert Faibaille, says he has duly sent his client’s responses to the Auditor General. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana