Defence Ministry Denies Transfer of UN Account

THE ministry of Defence and the Military High Command have denied that the sector Minister, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor had transferred the United Nations account in the Pay Office of the Ghana Armed Forces to his office.

The Military noted with grave concern allegations making the rounds in some media houses concerning a transfer of "UN Account from Forces Pay Office to the Minister's Office" with the aim of giving the Minister undue advantage in his Presidential aspiration.

According to a press statement issued by the Chief Director of Finance and Administration, Ministry, Mr. Daniel Ofosu Krow, the Ministry is particularly concerned about the 'Ghanaian Lens" publication of Tuesday 15th May 2007 edition but the Ministry of Defence would like to state categorically that the story was full of false information which was aimed at smearing the image of the Honourable Minister for Defence.

The statement noted that there is no United Nations Account, which is known as Armed Forces Suspense Account. The United Nations Account is in New York and opened for specific operations i.e. UNIFIL (Lebanon), UNAMSIL (Sierra Leone), MONUC (DR Congo), UNMIL (Liberia) and UNOCI (Cote d'Ivoire). These accounts are controlled by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and the Controller and Accountant General in accordance with Government. Financial Administration Regulations.

"As and when funds are required by the Ghana Armed Forces for peace keeping operations, the Ministry of Defence submits its requirements to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for approval and release of funds through the Controller and Accountant General's Department, stressing that the Ghana Armed Forces Suspense Account is not a United Nations Account nor vice versa.

The statement said the Armed Forces Suspense Account is a different Account operated by the Ghana Armed Forces. It is of paramount importance to note that the Ghana Armed Forces Suspense Account is neither controlled nor disbursements there made by the Minister for Defence.

Finally, the statement concluded that the Ministry of Defence would "like to assure the general public that funds generated from Ghana's participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations would continue to be judiciously applied in the interest of the Ghana Armed Forces and the nation.