Respond to corruption allegations in 10 days – CHRAJ to PBC CEO

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has given the Chief Executive Officer of Produce Buying Company (PBC), Mr Kofi Owusu Boateng ten days within which to respond to a complaint of misappropriation lodged against him by Kumasi-based journalist Nana Kwadwo Jantuah.

“You are required to submit your written response within 10 working days upon receipt of this complaint,” CHRAJ stated in its letter to the CEO.

The journalist, represented by his lawyer, Mr Sarfo Gyamfi, believes the company, which was recently delisted by the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) over its failure to publish its financial results, should be investigated for possible corruption and mismanagement, hence his petition to CHRAJ.

In his petition, Mr Jantuah cited suspicious activities by the directors of the firm to back his claim and noted that he has documents which indicated the withdrawal of some GHS 1.5 million from PBC’s account in 2018, ostensibly for the purchase of nuts, which have not been delivered at the time of filing the petition.

Mr Jantuah also wants an audit conducted into the purchase of some equipment valued at $576,000 which later shot up to $1.6 million.

Coming on the back of a demonstration by the workers of PBC on Tuesday, 6 August 2019 against the management on the company’s Dzorwulu premises in Accra, Mr Jantuah also wants answers about the failure of PBC to pay the salaries of its workers.

The Commission also wrote to the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr John Benam Jabaah to also send his written comments within 10 days since his name was mentioned in the complaint.