Audio By Carbonatix
The Deputy Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament is questioning a priority payment to companies under the defunct Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial development Agency.
Atta Akyea suspects something fishy must have gone on for which reason 199 million cedis will be paid to the "blessed" five service providers under GYEEDA.
He was reacting to a 2012 Auditor General's report which revealed that the payments were made without supporting documents.
GYEEDA has been popular for the wrong reasons following an investigative report by Joy News' Manasseh Azure Awuni which revealed widespread corruption and misappropriation of funds for a program that was to provide jobs for the youth.
Two public officials are standing trial for their roles in the misappropriation but it appears the state is not yet done with payments to companies under the defunct agency.
Deputy Minister of Finance Ato Forson justified the payment of 199 million cedis when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, Monday.
He explained the state may well be held for penal payment or judgment debts if it failed to pay the monies to the five companies.
But speaking to Joy News' Evans Mensah, the Deputy Chair of the PAC, Atta Akyea said the deputy Minister's explanations were "watery and unconvincing."
He wondered how the ministry found supporting document to make payments to the five companies when the Auditor General did not find any.
In any case, he argued, there are dozens of contractors owed several millions of cedis by the state who have not been paid and who are demanding payment but the ministry never found it prudent to pay.
He found it rather surprising that the Ministry, will give priority to companies under the GYEEDA scheme to make payments to them.
"There must be special reasons for the expedited payment to the blessed GYEEDA companies," he said.
He said the whole GYEEDA payment must be reopened because it is an "embarrassment to the ministry" and the they have a duty to clear their names.
Latest Stories
-
Legal Green Association commends government and Edmond Kombat for TOR revival
38 minutes -
Trump hopes to reach phase two of Gaza ceasefire ‘very quickly’
43 minutes -
Bangladesh’s first female prime minister Khaleda Zia dies aged 80
49 minutes -
We’ll prosecute persons who do not surrender illegal arms before Jan 15 – Dr Bonaa
50 minutes -
Col. Festus Aboagye warns against ‘outsourcing’ African security following US airstrikes in Nigeria
1 hour -
SEC assures investor protection as Virtual Asset Bill comes into force
1 hour -
El Kaabi brace powers Morocco to win; Bafana brave fightback; Egypt top group and Mali reach knockout stage
2 hours -
Ukraine denies drone attack on Putin’s residence
2 hours -
Cedi records year-end rally as diaspora inflows and trade surplus break volatility cycle
3 hours -
31st Night doom prophecies: Be cautious and measured – NPC to prophets
3 hours -
Nigeria set the pace as Mahrez leads the way after two AFCON 2025 group rounds
4 hours -
Ga West Municipal Assembly shuts down China Mall after building collapse
5 hours -
Beyoncé declared a billionaire by Forbes
5 hours -
Techiman hosts historic launch of GJA Bono East Chapter
5 hours -
Mpox fatalities rise to six as GHS sounds alarm over festive crowds
6 hours
