Dr. Amoah, Alhassan Yakubu, 10 other GCB board members received $33,000 each for 'questionable overseas training' - Report

The 12 members of the GCB Bank PLC board reportedly received $33,000 (GH¢479,000) as a travel allowance for a training program abroad, sparking concern within the state-owned financial institution.

An investigative report by The Herald revealed that the travel allowance paid to the 12 board members totaled a staggering US$396,000 (GH¢5,757,840), not including the cost of first-class plane tickets and the actual training, which many within the bank have criticized as "questionable."

Those who benefited from the training included Kofi Adomakoh, the Managing Director; Dr. Stephen Amoah, Deputy Minister for Finance and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Nhyiaeso Constituency; Emmanuel Odartey Lamptey, Deputy Managing Director in charge of Operations; Socrates Afram, Deputy Managing Director in charge of Finance; Nana Ama Ayensua Saara III, Omanhemaa of the Denkyira Traditional Area; Alhaji Alhassan Yakubu, Non-Executive Director; Francis Arthur-Collins, Non-Executive Director; Ray Ankrah, Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD); Osmani Aludiba Ayuba; Lydia Essah; Daniel Kwaku Tweneboah Asirifi of the law firm Akuffo-Addo, Prempeh & Co.; and Samuel Kwame Yedu Aidoo, Executive Director of Wholesale and Investment Banking at GCB Bank PLC.

The report stated that some board members travelled to the United States and others to South Africa for the training known as "The Complete Board Directors Programme."

The investigation by The Herald was prompted by a leaked internal memo regarding the payment of the US$33,000 travel allowance to Alhaji Alhassan Yakubu, who travelled to South Africa, revealing significant financial mismanagement within the state-owned financial institution.

The memo, signed by Nana Kwabena Yeboah, the head of HR, and Alexander Yeboah, Manager of Compensation and Rewards, outlined the payment details to Yakubu.

"We advise your participation in the above-referenced programme being organised by Inter Africa Consulting Group in Johannesburg, South Africa, from May 27 to June 7, 2024. The DMD, Finance is, by a copy of this memorandum, expected to pay you the following emoluments in respect of your travel," part of the memo which was dated May 23, 2024, was quoted by theheraldghana.com

A breakdown of the US$33,000 allowance to Yakubu included US$12,000 for accommodation at US$1,000 per day for 12 nights; US$18,000 as per diem at US$1,500 per day for his 12-day stay in South Africa; plus an additional US$3,000 at US$1,500 for two days described vaguely as "travelling days."

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