Hon. Fred Opoku fingered in financial malfeasance - appears before audit committee

CAMPUS RADIO GHANA    22/03/2018 

Hon. Fred Opoku fingered in financial malfeasance -  appears before audit committee.

The popular quote, "Be citizens and not spectators" at the inaugural ceremony of the current President, H.E Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo has been taken seriously by two gentlemen, Mr. Emmanuel Agyei Gyasi Korsa and Mr. Isaac Nayina Bukumboa Zak of the School of Public Health of the University of Health and Allied Sciences who petitioned the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Daniel Abaye on a suspected embezzlement of student funds in the renovation of a printing press on Hohoe Campus of the University.

The duo explained that the move was not an attempt to witch-hunt or soil anyone's reputation but to ensure that there is probity, transparency and accountability in the dealings of the SRC. According to them, the Provincial SRC President, Hon. Opoku Fred walked away furiously when he was interrogated on certain portions of the budget for the renovation hence compelling them to take him on. 

The vigilantes are both Committee leaders of the Provincial SRC on Hohoe Campus with Mr. Agyei Gyasi Korsa leading the Finance Committee and the Academic Affairs Committee led by Mr. Nayina Zak. 

Events leading to the petition could be traced to the 'outrageous' amount the SRC Secretariat on Hohoe Campus spent in establishing the printing press and the purchase of some equipment like the photocopier machine. The team of petitioners found it hard to believe that an amount of GHC 2,632.00 was spent in the renovation considering the size of the facility. 

The University management acted swiftly when they received the petition and delegated internal auditors led by Nana Yaw to investigate the matter. The auditors began their enquiry with the Provincial SRC President, Hon. Opoku Fred and his Treasurer, Hon. Naabu Emmanuel. 

They presented their documents together with the financial transactions before the committee for further interrogation. The petitioners were later invited to substantiate their claims of gross embezzlement of funds. They showed evidence of printed receipts the Provincial SRC President disseminated to them on their General Assembly platform. 

Additional information provided by the petitioners was the pricing of the items bought for the renovation and their counter prices when they visited a number of stores to find out the prices. 

The petitioners failed to provide invoices for the items they enquired at the various stores they visited. The auditors together with both parties involved in the case visited the printing press to see for themselves whether the amount stipulated for the renovation matches the actual work done. The printing press on Hohoe Campus is a size of a cubicle and it's a fragment of the building that houses the University administration. 

The room and the woolen carpet were both measured and pictures of the facility were taken. The Maintenance Officer, Mr. Edward Hayford who was consulted to undertake the renovation work was later bypassed and another contractor was hired to do the job. 

It will be recalled that the Provincial SRC President declined to state the figure at which the photocopy machine was purchased adding that the transaction was between the University management and the company. 

The Audit Committee phoned the Federal SRC President, Hon. Afrane Pious to clarify matters with regards to the amount expended on the purchase of the machine. He confirmed that the University management was involved in the transaction citing the Assistant Registrar for Student Affairs, Mr. Wilson Gyamerah, himself and the Provincial SRC President, Hon. Opoku Fred who deliberated on the various prices and finally settled on a suitable one. He revealed that the machine, it's transportation and installation summed up to GHC 13,000.00. 

The photocopy machine ever since it was installed has broken down and had to be repaired by one Amesinu Francis also a member of the ICT Committee on Hohoe Campus. This caused the petitioners to suspect the machine was not brand new.   

The contractor only known as Patrick was also queried by the Audit Committee and was ordered to submit his budget for the work done. His estimated stood at GHC 2,071.00 but he ended up receiving GHC 1,900 in installments. 

He also took GHC 350.00 for designing an office table. He was rebuked for issuing a receipt for chairs to a tune of GHC 60.00 when he didn't own a furniture workshop. 

The concluding remarks of the Audit Committee was that the Provincial SRC President, Hon. Opoku Fred was not supposed to handle finances when there was a Treasurer. The committee cautioned them of the future implications of acts of embezzlement and dishonesty. He was scolded for refusing hand over the project to the ICT Committee. 

They gave instances of certain students in the previous SRC administration who have had their certificates withheld because of corrupt practices. They have promised to disclose the full report of their findings when the investigations are over and craved the indulgence of the parties involved to assist them with information when need be. 

By: Angmortey Kwabena Raphael 

(Campus Radio Ghana)