Joy News is learning that the National Security has taken over the investigation into questionable payments at the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).

The staff of the utilities regulator have been demanding a thorough audit of the Commission’s accounts, accusing management of massive financial misappropriation.

The staff agitation also follows a Joy News investigative report which revealed some questionable payments by top management.

The workers last week began protesting at the PURC head office in Accra.

They were clad in red armbands and wore red shirts.

Last Monday, the workers had planned to lock their offices to demand the resignation of the Executive Secretary, Samuel Sarpong, and other officials of the Commission.

However, the PURC staff union executives were invited by the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, who urged them to calm down.

The Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) has also interrogated some staff over the financial misappropriation scandal.

Furthermore, officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has also begun looking into a $100,000 software deal.

The Joy News investigative report revealed that Commission had paid $200,000 for software from a US-based IT firm without withholding tax.

The contract was sole-sourced to Power Systems and Energy Consulting.

The Commission also spent an additional $208,000 for what it calls ancillary services, also, without holding any taxes.