Audit Committee orders Opoku Fred to refund GHC 262.00 to the SRC

The investigation on the alleged financial malfeasance in the outgone SRC administration of Hohoe Campus of the University of Health and Allied Sciences led by Hon. Opoku Fred has been closed in by the audit committee with the outcome of the audit submitted to the newly elected Provincial SRC President, Hon. Gordon Awuku.

Two finalists, Mr. Nayina Bukumboa Zak and Mr. Emmanuel A. Gyasi Korsa who were Committee heads in the immediate past administration blew the whistle when they suspected embezzlement of funds in the renovation of the Printing press on Hohoe Campus and proceeded to file a petition to the University management.

It could be recalled that the Ex Provincial SRC President for Hohoe Campus, Hon. Opoku Fred presented an estimated figure of GHC 2,632.00 to members of the General Assembly as the amount spent in the renovation of the Printing press. This sparked some controversy with a section of them describing it as outrageous and a calculated attempt to embezzle funds.

On the 22nd of March, 2018 the team of auditors delegated by the Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. Daniel Abaye visited Hohoe Campus to carry out the audit process. The committee submitted the report with the following findings;

- On 14th November 2017, the Provincial SRC President in Hohoe (through the Federal SRC President in Ho) requested for an amount of GHS 2,632.00 from the Dean of Students Affairs to renovate a room (provided to the SRC by the Acting Dean of School of Public Health) for use.

- Upon receipt of the money, Mr. Fred Opoku engaged one Mr. Patrick Sededzi (Estate Assistant at the Hohoe Municipal Hospital) to undertake the renovation works.

- Our audit verifications showed that the actual expenditure on the entire renovation works amounts to GHS 2,370.00. There is therefore a difference of GHS 262.00 with Mr. Fred Opoku, the Provincial SRC President in Hohoe.

-There is a leakage in the roof of the SRC Printing room in Hohoe.

-The SRC Photocopier at Hohoe was purchased by the Federal SRC in Ho and sent to Hohoe but not bought by Mr. Fred Opoku as alleged by the petitioners. The cost of the Photocopier is GHS 13,095.00.

The Audit Committee further supported the report with the following recommendations from the audit process.

- Mr. Fred Opoku, the Provincial SRC President should refund an amount of GHS 262.00 to the SRC.

- The Dean of Students should facilitate the process of getting Mr. Patrick Sededzi to repair the leaking roof of the Printing room.

- The Dean of Students should facilitate a process for the student body in Hohoe to be briefed about the outcome of the University’s investigation.

The Printing Press was recently handed over to the new SRC administration on Hohoe Campus to be manned to rake in revenue for the SRC Secretariat.

By: Angmortey Kwabena Raphael 
(Campus Radio Ghana)