Former Ports and Habours Minister Prof Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi has described as ridiculous a statement that cites him as having financially benefited from the PSC Tema Shipyard. A witness statement issued by the Chief Financial Officer – currently on suspension – at the shipyard in response to an internal audit report on the company’s operations claimed that financial demands from Prof Ameyaw Akumfi culminated in the setting up of a company, Keta Shipping Resources, to siphon money to the former minister and his party. The internal audit report – carried out by KPMG, an audit firm - had stated that the Chief Financial Officer had in collusion with some friends set up a bogus company which served as a conduit through which certain payments were made to some political figures. But responding to the issues, Prof Ameyaw Akumfi suggested the story linking him to the dry dock company is not true. Although he admits being friends with a worker at the company, he dismisses assertions that he received monies. He mentioned that he has long been worried about the poor management of the dry dock company and even suggested alternatives to restructuring it. PSC Tema Shipyard was divested to the Malaysians in 1996 at $4.2 million, a deal which made the foreign entity a majority shareholder. But workers there have, over the years, been agitating for the dismissal of the Malaysian management who they claim are collapsing the company. An internal audit was subsequently launched into activities there after intermittent industrial actions at the company to which the Chief Financial Officer was required to provide responses. Mohammed Ismael Bin Lebai Sulaiman fingered several political figures he said the company paid monies to, including the former Inspector General of Police (IGP). Sulaiman also mentioned a key member of the National Democratic Congress, Mr P.V. Obeng, as having been contacted by a principal in the matter, one Ben Tetteh, for assistance to block efforts to have the company’s ownership reverted to government. Mr Obeng admitted having met the said Ben Tetteh but said that meeting was not to block any takeover as claimed. The former presidential adviser has however hinted that he is willing to subject himself to any investigations into the matter. Meanwhile government is due to launch a committee to investigate the allegations. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com