Auditor-General takes action against driver over missing contraceptives, condoms worth GH¢1.34 million

The Auditor-General is taking action against a driver, Joe Gyaten, who failed to deliver three million condoms and other contraceptives worth GH¢1.34 million to the Regional Medical Stores in the Eastern Region.

According to a report by graphiconline.com.gh, Joe Gyaten was assigned to deliver the contraceptives on August 22, 2022, but failed to do so, prompting an investigation by the Auditor-General.

"Mr Gyaten has also not been able to account for the items until today, prompting the Auditor-General’s inquest and efforts to recover the funds in accordance with Section 96 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921)," the report noted.

Till date, Mr Gyaten has not accounted for the items, leading to suspicions of misappropriation or mismanagement of public resources, which contravenes Section 96 of the Act.

This was revealed in the latest Auditor-General's Report on the public accounts of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), which uncovered staggering financial irregularities totaling over GH¢2.41 billion in 2023.

Auditor-General's Report

The irregularities spanned various areas, including cash, tax, payroll, debts, and loans, as well as stores and procurement, contracts and rent. Notably, stores and procurement irregularities accounted for GH¢2.06 million, with GH¢1.34 million related to unaccounted store items. Tax irregularities dominated the report, constituting 89.6% (GH¢2.16 billion) of the total financial infractions. Additionally, cash irregularities totaling GH¢88.41 million were detected, representing 3.7% of the total irregularities.

The report directed the Ministry of Health to recover the amount from Mr Gyaten and pay it into the Auditor-General's Recoveries Account at the Bank of Ghana. Failure to comply will result in personal liability for the debt.

The Ministry of Health has referred the matter to the Health Intelligence Unit for further investigation, which is working closely with the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.

JKB/ADG

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