BOST probes executives

Albert Mantey, Chairman of the Senior Staff Union of Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST), has revealed that some top officials of the state oil distribution company are under investigation for alleged financial malfeasance.

According to him, these officials have been found to be involved in several corrupt deals at the company, hence it had become necessary to make them step aside for investigations to be carried out.

Speaking in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra 100.5FM on Monday June 26, Mr Mantey said: “There was so much rot at BOST under the former administration headed by Kwame Awuah Darko. It was very good that the people of Ghana ensured a change in government because it has brought to the fore several dubious deals made at the BOST, which wouldn’t have come to light if the previous government had remained in power.

“An acting director of finance at BOST transferred GHS50,000 into his own account. When he was questioned about such act he said it was his acting allowance. Such actions are not allowed at the finance department and so he was interdicted for investigations to be carried out.

“Again, one official in charge of products has also transferred $32million worth of products to someone without the new MD’s authorisation and so he has been interdicted for investigations to be carried out.

“Kwame Awuah Darko himself, the former MD, used unwarranted sole-sourcing to get a contractor to build the new BOST office for $39million. He hastily gave out this contract but the new MD, Alfred Obeng, has suspended that contract. Interestingly, after the contract was cancelled, the contractor came to MD Alfred Obeng and pleaded that the contract be not cancelled and that he could execute the project for $20 million. Just imagine. That means the $19million was going into somebody’s pocket.

“Again, a contractor was awarded a contract to carry out maintenance work on the pipeline project from Tema to Akosombo and that contractor was paid $19million. The contractor came to the new MD after he had suspended the project and attempted to bribe him with $5million.”

He added: “All these officials who engaged in the dubious deals were appointed by the previous government. We don’t have any problem with that because they are all Ghanaians who must work, but in doing that you need to ensure that you don’t dupe the state.

“The manager of the trading department, who was also employed by the previous government, diverted products worth $32million to an unknown person. When he was asked why he did that he said BOST owed that person. When asked to produce the documents indicating that BOST owed that person, he could not produce a single document, and so he has been interdicted.”