The Director of Budget at the Presidency who presided over the expenses of Ghana’s 50th anniversary, Mr Azu Sam Aziakor, has disclosed that the Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Ghana@50 Secretariat has no basis to demand salary arrears. Wereko-Brobby is demanding some $216,000 as salary arrears owed him by government for over two years of service to the nation as CEO of Ghana@50. He told commissioners probing the activities of the celebration when he appeared on 15th October, 2009 that he had only been paid 50 per cent of his salary arrears with a start-up salary of $5,000 per month. But when the Budget Officer, Mr Aziakor, took his turn to give testimony, he told commissioners he could not vouch for the claims made by Dr. Wereko-Brobby. He confirmed paying some $75,000 as salary advance to Dr. Brobby in May, 2008 at a time the salary of Dr. Brobbey had not been determined. According to him, Dr. Brobby presented a memo with the heading “Request for payment of salary” to the budget office which was forwarded to the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Kwadwo Mpiani for approval. He said he used the memo as basis for a salary voucher before paying the said amount. Chairman of the commission, Justice Isaac Duose, who was not convinced with the use of the memo to generate a salary voucher demanded to know if Dr. Brobby provided an appointment letter which was used as basis for the salary voucher. But Mr Azu insisted he used the memo because the salary of Dr. Brobby was still in negotiation. “So at the moment the salary for the CEO is not known?” The chairman quizzed. "Yes my lord," Mr Azu acquiesced. “If he says government owes him, what will be the basis?” The chairman probed further. The budget Director responded swiftly, yet bluntly, "there will be no basis." Play the attached audio for excerpts of the cross-examination. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana