No cash at Gender Ministry

Chief Director at the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, Eric Kwesi Armo Himbson, has told the Commission of Enquiry investigating the payment of judgement debts that the ministry is cash trapped.

He said it accounted for the reason why its former Chief Director, Valentine T. Kuuzume, has not been paid medical and other expenses due him.

“We have an issue of non-release of our budgetary allocation. For 2013, we got only one release instead of four,” he told Sole Commissioner Justice Yaw Apau of the Court of Appeal.

Mr Kuuzume, who was at the ministry from 2006 until his retirement in 2009, appeared before the commissioner complaining bitterly about the ministry’s attitude towards the claim for his medical and other expenses totalling Ghc6,414.44 and $1,960.

Testifying last week, Mr Kuuzume who was appointed Chief Director of then Ministry of Information and National Orientation in 2005 before being transferred to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWAC), told Justice Apau that there were outstanding medical bills as well as using his personal funds to meet expenses of the ministry in order to save “some embarrassing situations.”

When the commissioner asked him why he had not sought a court order to claim the supposed expenses, the retired civil servant said he did not want the government to incur more debt, saying, “I am relying on this commission because of the attitude of the ministry up to date.”

He said the Audit Service gave clearance for the Ministry of Finance and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to process the payment but the ministry has refused to pay.

“There is a lack of initiative or sheer wickedness on the part of the ministry. Everything has been cleared but I still cannot get my money,” Mr Kuuzume lamented.

He said unless the commission intervened, the ministry headed by Nana Oye Lithur might not pay the amounts which have already been processed by the Controller.

However, Mr Himbson admitted before the commission that they were aware of the debt but said there was no money in the coffers.

He said in the whole of 2013 when the claim was processed, the ministry received only one out of the mandated four budgetary allocations, and that made it impossible for them to make the payment.

“It is a genuine problem of money. I have discussed it with him and I am surprised he petitioned the commission,” the Chief Director said.

Deputy Controller and Accountant General in charge of Treasury, Andrew Kingsley Kwadwo Kufe, also appeared to confirm that they processed the expenses incurred by Mr Kuzuume which the ministry refused to pay.

He said fortunately for the ministry, there was what he called “a comfort letter” that would make it possible for them to raise the claim for payment in subsequent budget.”