The Audit Service of Ghana, in its reports on the public Accounts of MDAs for the financial year ended December 31, 2018 sighted some irregularities at the Ministry of Finance.
According to the Audit report, the Ministry procured the services of Kroll Associates in 2017 to recover assets from identified wrongdoers; investigate allegations of wrong doing; provide evidence for assets recoveries; build capacity for the transfer of skills; advice on preventative techniques and structures to prevent and detect future corruption.
However, the report revealed that though there was no evidence of work done, the Ministry in 2018 paid an amount of US$1 million (equivalent of GH¢4,890,000) to the company.
The Auditor General’s further review showed inconsistencies in some of the documentations. The Auditor noted for instance that though the contract with Kroll Associates was signed in September 2017, some of the invoices attached to the payment vouchers predated the award of the contract.
Feedback from the Ministry on Kroll Associates
Meanwhile, when the Management of the Finance Ministry was contacted with regards to the observation, the Ministry said they would make the records available later.
Nonetheless, the Auditor General in its recommendation stated that “considering the nature of the contract awarded, we are of the view that this project should have been executed for informed decision by government regarding how state resources have been used by public officers.
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In view of the non-performance of Kroll Associates in executing the contract, we recommended that the contract be abrogated and any amounts of money paid to the company recovered immediately.”
