The management of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) spent a total amount of ¢16.83 million on administrative and operational activities without any approved budget from the period 2017-2019, the Auditor General Report on Public Boards, Corporations and other Statutory Institutions has revealed.

It is therefore urging the Executive Secretary to seek retrospective approval from Parliament for the said amount spent to avoid disallowance and surcharge sanctions.

It also noted during its review of cash management that GEPA received a total amount of GH¢15.73 million from the Exim Bank for export development. However, the funds were disbursed without any approved budget.

“We entreated the Authority to seek retrospective approval from Parliament for the utilisation of Exim Bank funds and inform us accordingly”, it said.

It also found out that the Acting Director of Finance did not prepare and submit to the Auditor-General for validation and certification, the financial statements for the years 2017 and 2018.

The report therefore urged the Executive Secretary to ensure that the Ag. Director of Finance prepares and submit to the Auditor-General for validation and certification, the financial statements for the years 2017 and 2018.

Continuing, the report said “we noted that management did not prequalify four Travel and Tour Companies before engaging them in ticket transactions amounting to ¢316,103.54.”

“We recommended that Management should ensure that all business entities meet the statutory prequalification criteria outlined in section 21 of the Public Procurement Act before they are considered for businesses”, it said.