Poor financial management at EC systemic – Charlotte Osei

The chairperson of the Electoral Commission Charlotte Osei has revealed that poor financial management at the commission is systemic.

According to her, there are numerous instances where funds meant for the commission for work done, are paid into the accounts of individuals at the commission.

Mrs. Osei also alleges that one of her deputies habitually enters into illegitimate financial arrangements on behalf of the commission without her consent.

“While on leave in June 2017, the Deputy Chairperson without authorization and notice to the Chairperson, approved 2015 financial statements of the Commission, an increase in the amount for fuel coupons (beyond budgeted levels) and without prior knowledge and authorization of the Chairperson or the Commission. Clearly, there is ample evidence of poor knowledge of corporate governance, rules of public service financial management and general incompetence.

“The poor financial management systems within the Commission are systemic. In some cases, Commission funds are paid into personal accounts of staff members at the regional offices.

“The Deputy Chairperson Operations collected funds above GHS6m (Six million Ghana cedis) in cash from some political parties for the organization of party primaries without recourse to the structures of the Commission, and without the involvement of the finance department of the Commission.

Political party primaries were treated as a private commercial project by the Deputy Chairperson Ops, with funds paid directly into the personal accounts of key staff for functions to be performed for party primaries,” the EC boss narrated in her response to the allegation by the so-called staff of the commission who have petitioned the president for her removal.