Sack community development director - Akufo-Addo urged

The Objective Media Forum is calling on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to with immediate effect sack Mr. Paul Avoka, the current Director of the Department of Community Development.

The Forum among other allegations have accused the Director of running his office as ‘’one man’s’ property and also working on a UNICEF project to his selfish interest, neglecting the core mandate assigned him.

According to the Forum, Mr. Avoka’s retirement age was due last year December 16, 2016 however, he’s has been handed an extension of two years and we [Objective Forum] believes will rather cause more harm than good.

They also alleged that, the Director brags of being an in-law to the current Minister of Local Government, Hajia Alima Mahama therefore, cannot be axed.

The Forum further made reference to the Audit Service management letter on the audit of the accounts of the department for the period of January-December 2016 where they say the under the Director a total amount of GHc87,000 was allegedly disbursed on strategic planning workshop.

However, the budget estimates, signed attendance list and official receipt from the hotel were not made available for audit examination.

The audit report according to them, recommended to management to ensure that all expenditure details of the amount be made available for audit whereas the Director who was to proceed on compulsory leave on December 16, 2017 was still at post.

The director who handled financial and administrative matters under the period with some others made some 465 staff contribute an amount of GHc300 each for the organization of an orientation.

However, out of the total contribution of GHc139, 495.50, only GHc88, 492.00 was disbursed leaving a total contribution of GHc51,003.50 to be accounted, the Forum referred to the audit report.

Aside that, the audit also found out that the DCD did not establish Entity Tender Committee (ETC) to carry out its statutory mandate and per the recommendation of the Audit Service, the department was to take immediate steps to establish the Entity Tender Committee to ensure that all procurement activities are undertaken in accordance with Procurement Act, the Forum indicated.

The Forum also referred to the failure of the director to comply with Section 30 of the Audit Service Act 2000 (Act 584) which calls for the DCD to constitute an ARIC to serve its intended purpose.

The Audit Service report according to the Forum has revealed that the director who failed to retire has received his monthly salary from January-July 2017 this year totaling an amount of GHc29,601.60 and a monthly net amount of GHc4,228.80.

The Forum stressed. Mr. Avoka’s name should have gone off the payroll system automatically when he was sixty years but he continued to receive his salary every month.

The Object Media Forum is therefore calling on the president to with immediate effect relieve Dr. Paul Avoka of his post and possibly retrieve all the monthly salary paid him from his retirement month.