Joy News has intercepted documents detailing how the controversial ¢15 billion (equivalent to GH¢1.5 million) withdrawn from the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Recovery Levy was spent by the past administration. The draft audit report states that a total of GH¢6 million (the equivalent of ¢60 billion) from the Petroleum Dept Recovery, the Divesture, the Multilateral Dept Relief Initiative and the HIPC Fund accounts was misapplied on a government communications strategy. The report states that the money wrongfully released by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning was paid to some individuals who formed part of an “Editors Forum” and media executives to defend government programmes during radio discussions. Initial reports on the matter suggested that ¢15 billion (equivalent to GH¢1.5 million) of the TOR Recovery Levy had been used to pay off journalists. The audit report says the groups operated under the cover of darkness. Former Information Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng is cited in the report as having presided over what the audit report terms “the misapplication of government funds.” In a letter obtained by Joy News containing a detailed response to the issues raised by the Auditor-General, former Information Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng explains that the policy to pay media practitioners predated his appointment. He says he was simply implementing the government’s communications strategy programme that had been accepted by Cabinet in a meeting in 2006. Under the programme, government set up two distinctive groups - the Public Relations and Information Management Group and the Monitoring groups - members of which were given monthly allowances of at least GH¢400 from the Petroleum Debt Recovery Account and other government revenue sources. Contract letters also obtained by Joy News state the beneficiaries will get other freebies subject to excellent performance and favourable recommendations. Joy News has in its possession contracts signed between the Information Ministry by at least two journalists in May 2008, detailing their responsibilities. However Mr. Asamoah Boateng explains that all relevant documentation relating to the payments can be accessed from the Accounts Office at the ministry. Meanwhile, the former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, has vehemently defended the withdrawal of the GH¢6 million from the TOR Dept Recovery Fund and other government revenue sources to pay journalists to propagate government policies. Dr. Akoto Osei has been indicted in the audit report for supervising the withdrawal of the monies. Credit: Evans Mensah/Joy FM/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana