Ashanti Regional Branch Chairman of the Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU), Ernest Badu-Boateng, has been charged with misappropriation of GH¢92,357.67 and abuse of office.
The clinical microbiologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) was arrested Tuesday by officers at the Sofoline Police Station in Kumasi to assist with criminal investigation of the alleged impropriety.
On May 4, 2016, the National Executive Council (NEC) ordered Mr Badu-Boateng to refund the said embezzled money – made up of union dues, welfare and development fund of IGF staff at KATH after he was indicted by a fact-finding committee’s report.
He has since been stripped off of his position as Ashanti Regional Chairman of HSWU and expelled from the NEC of the union by popular vote in line with Article12.3 (b) of the union’s constitution and international regulations for the abuse of office charge.
The accused accordingly forfeits privileges and benefits associated with his position for the contravention of part 25 (b) of the HSWU’s constitution relating to oath of office as an elected officers of the union.
The NEC, at its sittings on April 25 and 26, 2016, arrived at the decision that gave Mr Badu-Boateng up to Friday, July 15, 2016 to refund the GH¢92,357.67 .
According to a letter signed by HSWU’s General Secretary, Abu Kunpulo, Ernest Badu-Boateng, together with other former executives of KATH branch, violated the union’s 2012 conference decision on the development and welfare funds, by paying to themselves allowances, bonuses and ex-gratia without recourse to NEC after arrogating powers to themselves.
He, as a signatory, and two other unqualified signatories, were said to have opened a secret account at the Suame branch of Unibank in Kumasi to transfer funds for the embezzlement.
Mr Badu-Boateng was again accused to have failed to exhibit honesty to some union officials by presenting false bank statements, aside paying IGF staff retirees some benefits below approved welfare scheme rules and bye-laws of the HSWU.
DAILY GUIDE gathered that among the other former executives cited for the funds misappropriation are Samuel Mensah, Volta regional industrial relations officer, and Nti Ofori Atta of Tafo Government Hospital in Kumasi.
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