A group known as National Advocates Against Corruption and Injustice (NACCAI) is calling on government to prosecute former Youth and Sports Minister, Clement Kofi Humado, for his alleged involvement in the Ghana Youth and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) financial misappropriation scandal.
[contextly_sidebar id=”4bCIakjYpoqSYjuOwzmr8XnDFM2Jpafp”]A Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah has also called for a similar action to be taken against the former minister.
The group insists Kofi Humado caused financial loss to the state for his alleged role “in signing an amount of Ghc240,000,000 to Better Ghana Management Service” as captured in the 2013 Auditor General’s report which they say was not value for money, hence their call.
“Clement Kofi Humado has also been indicted in the same Auditor General’s report for misapplying an amount of Ghc230, 000,000 to sixteen service providers to execute various jobs under the GYEEDA.”
Mr. Humado is currently not facing any charges.
But the MP for Chiana Paga, Abuga is currently facing six counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GH¢3,330,568.53; two counts of abetment and one count of intentionally misapplying public property under the GYEEDA program during his tenure as the coordinator of the National Youth Coordinator.
According to the group, the Auditor General’s report for the year ending, December 31, 2013 also indicated that, the agency which was under the Ministry of Youth and Sports and headed by Mr Humado did not conduct due diligence to assess the service providers it engaged before awarding various contracts to them to provide services to targeted beneficiaries.
Humado, Abuga Pele ignored procurement processes
They also argued that the report explicitly indicated that Mr. Humado and other Ministers and the former National Coordinator of GYEEDA, Abuga Pele failed to adhere to the procurement act in ensuring the service providers had professional and technical qualifications and competence, financial resources, managerial capabilities and reputation to execute the contracts.
“We find it curious to note that, while Abuga Pele, former Coordinator of GYEEDA and Mr. Philip Assibit, CEO of Goodwill International Group (GIG) are currently facing trial for their alleged roles in scandal, Mr. Kofi Humado who was the minister at that time is walking freely and has even been brought to court to testify against his former subordinate, Abuga Pele.”
AG must retrieve all misappropriated cash
In a press released signed by the groups National Convener, Seidu Sulemana and press secretary, Ebenezer T.O Yamusah, they further entreated “…the Attorney General to take immediate steps to recover a total amount of Ghc51,000,000 paid as interest free loans to ZEERA group, Agams group and Juspong group as recommended by the presidential committee on GYEEDA.”
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By: Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana