A former Board Chairman of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, says former Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah, acted promptly when an anonymous whistle blower wrote to him about allegations of fraud and bribery at the authority.
He said Mr Garbrah instructed the board of GSA to initiate investigations into the allegations which involved the former Executive Director, Dr George Crentsil on the grounds that he received a 'kickback' from a contractor.
In a radio interview with Accra based Class FM Tuesday evening, Alhaji Sorogho argued that Mr Garbrah should be commended for initiating the action even though the whistle blower was anonymous.
Dr Crentsil, according to a Joy FM report received money from the contractor, who was contracted to construct a new training school block for the GSA in Accra.
The contractor is however yet to complete the building project due to lack of funds, a situation that compelled the board of directors to question the contractor and the GSA boss.
Reactions
Speaking publicly on the matter for the first time since reports emerged that the issue was not reported to the transition team, neither was it in the transition notes, and by so doing, the NDC administration wanted to cover up the matter, Alhaji Sorogho said Dr Garbrah should be commended rather, and that it was not his intention to cover up.
He explained it was not in the transition notes because the report was handed over to Mr Garbrah during his last days in office.
He explained that the GSA board and the Dr Gabrah got wind of the said ‘kickback’ through an anonymous letter someone wrote to the minister.
He said the minister received two anonymous letters, in which the latter contained about 18 allegations and that the said anonymous author did not write his name, address, contact details or appended his or her signature on the said letter.
Investigations
Alhaji Sorogho explained that the allegations made in the said anonymous letter compelled Dr Garbrah to sanction a four-member committee to investigate the matter through the board.
He said further that the findings from the committee, however, came late, as the previous government was preparing to leave office for the current administration.
Asked about whether the said money went to the former GSA boss, Alhaji Sorogho declined to talk about that but said the public must commend the minister for the bold decision he took in finding out the truth in the said allegations contained in the said anonymous letter.
Source: graphic.com.gh
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The African is capable of managing his/her own affairs. Forward then.....to independence now. Tomorrow the United States of Africa. The way to fight corruption is to forge a strong public opinion against it. Dr. Nkrumah is one of the ideological leaders of Africa.
Why should he be commended? is he not a Ghanaian? then what are you talking about?
DR GEORGE CRENTSIL MUST BE PROPERLY INVESTIGATED BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY ASSUMED DUTY AT GHANA STANDARDS AUTHORITY TO MESSUP THINGS. ALL THE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE
I sometimes do not understand Ghanaian and i feel very bad when i hear issues like this and instead of us hitting the bull by the horn we begin to gallivant about the issues and want people to sing praises for us for the fact that we are doing the work we are paid to do. If Mr. Spio directs that a case be look into what wonders has he done for commendation. He was being paid to make sure that there is effective and efficient allocation of resources and the there is value for money so if he orders that we investigate an issues what is the recommendation. these are the reasons why Ghana is stationary if we are unable to hold public officials by the job descriptions people like Mr. Alhaji Sorogho will have the confidence to talk about commendation. I even ask myself this so these presented who interviewed him did they ask Alhaji Sorogho that so if his child start to steal and a whistle blower notify and he act and it to bring his son to order does he go out for people to praise him for what he has done or does he expect people to praise him for that. Like people will tell him he is the ***barred word*** father ever on earth, i am telling him that if he want us commend Spio then Spio will be the ***barred word*** minister ever on earth not even in Ghana. I do not even want to talk about the fact that he did not include it in his report because that is even a non starter of a minister.
Awam campaign
Is this the NDC govt of JDM that people wanted us to retain in power?
FUNNY MAN.THE NDC GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING TO COVER UP.DID YOU COMMEND KENNEDY AGYAPONG WHEN HE BROUGHT OUT MR WOYOME ISSUE? THATS WHY YOU DON'T HAVE COMPETENT PEOPLE IN NDC.HOW CAN ALHAJI SOROGO BE A BOARD CHAIRMAN.GHANA PAAAAA DE33.WASTED 8YEARS.NANA ADDO HAVE WORK TO DO.
Spio did nothing about the report and also refused to mention it in his handing over report. Sorogo want us to be happy that he initiated a report? Sorogo the board chairman also benefited. I cannot trust any NDC member again. They are a gang of cr!minals. This is simply crete, l00t and share..... They all benefited.