I pre-financed Ghana@50 projects to prevent embarrassment - Wereko-Brobby

Accra, Oct. 13, GNA - Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, Chief Executive of the defunct Ghana@50 Secretariat, on Tuesday told the Justice Duose Commission investigating the activities of the Ghana@50 Secretariat that the pre-financing of the activities from his pocket and an overdraft from Prudential Bank was to save the country from embarrassment as time for the celebration was running out.

"My lord, although a total of $75 million was approved for the entire programme, no money was received until November 2006 and late January 2007, and under the circumstance I think that it was extra-ordinary and creative on our part to look for other alternatives," he said.

Dr. Wereko-Brobby was testifying before the Commission on a range of issues concerning the activities of the Secretariat, including how the projects were financed and how contractors and consultants were recruited. He explained that monies were released in piecemeal saying but for the use of money from private sources, most of the projects would have been stalled, with negative and embarrassing clouds hanging over the country. He said the Ghana@50 Secretariat consulted the National Planning Committee of the anniversary celebration before taking an overdraft from Prudential Bank to pre-finance some of the projects with interest, and did not find anything diabolical about it as against some claims that he unilaterally took that decision.

Dr. Wereko-Brobby said he pre-financed the projects with his personal money of two billion old Cedis for which he was paid back in bits without any interest.

"I did not say I gave it as a loan, otherwise it would have attracted a lot of interest now. All these were to save the country from shame and embarrassment."

Although he did not give the exact money spent on the entire celebrations, he said the Secretariat spent about 60 per cent less than the budget of $75 million approved by government, and promised to give detailed figures in his subsequent appearance before the Commission.

On his appointment letter, Dr. Wereko-Brobby said though he received a letter, he could not trace it and called on the Commission to consult the office of the Chief Director at Castle for a copy.

He answered in the affirmative when a member of the Commission wanted to know whether he recruited the staff of the Ghana@50 Secretariat. "My lord I engaged them, I interviewed them and I appointed them and I can provide you with all the model appointment letters."

Dr Wereko-Brobby said although he was supposed to receive a monthly allowance of $5,000, he did not receive anything until June 2008 when he received part payment and appealed to the Commission to facilitate the payment of his arrears.

On the success of the programme he said a total of about 300 projects out of the projected 360 were well executed and the fact that 32 African heads of state participated in the celebration was ample evidence that the programme was a success.

Asked why he gave a contract to Absolute Furnishers who had to rely on other consultants to draft the building projects, he said he was not aware, because the company provided ample evidence to demonstrate their capabilities and competences and could therefore not have been denied the contract. Dr. Wereko-Brobby would re-appear before the Commission on Wednesday October 14 to continue with the investigations.