A group calling itself Excellent Ghana has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Criminal investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to assist establish why public monies totaling GHc1,448,157.02 which was released for the compensation of poultry farmers whose birds were destroyed between May and October in 2015 remain outstanding.
The Group in a petition presented to the two state bodies said, the Special Prosecutor to assist in unravelling how public funds released for the compensation of poultry farmers during the outbreak of Bird Flu in Ghana between 2015 – 2016 is still not paid
Below is the full statement:
EXCELLENT GHANA PETITIONS SPECIAL PROSECUTOR AND POLICE CID OVER 2016 BIRD FLU COMPENSATION MONIES.
HAS GHANA SUFFERED ANY FINANCIAL LOSS?- Excellent Ghana petitions OSP & Police Cid.
Did you superintend over corruption? Excellent Ghana asks Dr. Hannah Bissiw
Excellent Ghana has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Criminal investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service to assist establish why public monies totaling GHc1,448,157.02 which was released for the compensation of poultry farmers whose birds were destroyed between May and October in 2015 remain outstanding, much to the detriment of the farmers.
The Civil Society Organization in a two-paged petition presented to the two state bodies says “Sirs, on the authority of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), the Criminal Offences Act and other governing literature on the management of public funds; Excellent Ghana pray for your assistance in unravelling how public funds released for the compensation of poultry farmers during the outbreak of Bird Flu (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza HPAI H5NI) in Ghana between 2015 – 2016.
Sometime around 17TH August 2017, the Auditor General published a report entitled Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana- Ministries, Departments and Other Agencies (MDAs) for the financial year ended 31ST December 2016.
On pages 158 – 159 of this 17 August 2017 Report, it is indicated that “out of the 63 outbreak sites or farms affected, only 27 were compensated with an amount of GHc1,141,216.94 leaving GHc1,448,157.02 unsettled as at December 2016.”
Sirs, in light of the Financial Regulations Act of 2003, Act 663, and other relevant governing literature, grateful for your assistance in ascertaining whether or not;
- the released funds have been misapplied on other recurrent expenditure?
- Ghana has suffered any financial loss/ misappropriation from the use of released/accrued monies for the compensation of poultry farmers, with regards to the Bird flu outbreak in 2015 and if so, are there grounds to charge anyone with the offence of “causing financial loss”??
- these said monies were underutilized” through negligence, criminal activity or any other illegal or wrongful act, and if so, who was responsible for it?
- the Bird Flu Programme Management Team paid the outstanding amount of GHc1,448,157.02 as advised by the Auditor General?
- any provisions and procedures were followed in disbursing the funds released for compensation, if due diligence was firstly done at all, what were these procedures?
- Aside the logistics provided by government, the 2015-2016 Bird Flu Programme Management Team again bought separate cars as asserted by the Hon. Dr. Louisa Hannah Bissiw (The then Deputy Minister of Agric in-charge of Livestock)?
- Those separate vehicles, if indeed purchased are still under government control?
- Finally, how much funds was entirely voted by the John Dramani Mahama government and other bodies for the containment of bird flu between 2015-2016?
We make haste to add, that notwithstanding this outstanding liability, The Auditor General omitted, failed or neglected to capture the above outstanding payment in a 23RD January 2018 Report, entitiled Report Of The Auditor-General On The Liabilities Of Ministries, Departments And Agencies As At 31st December 2016.”
In a News Release copied to the media, Excellent Ghana says, “we need your assistance to know why and how come, the Bird Flu Programme Management Team is yet to pay the outstanding amount of GHc1,448,157.02 to poultry farmers as advised by the Auditor General? It expresses shock as to why, majority of the poultry farmers, whose birds/farms were destroyed owing to the Bird Flu outbreak are yet to be compensated five solid years after their livelihoods have been destroyed.
Counting on your integrity and public spiritedness against corruption for prompt response/s.
Yours in perpetual service to God and country.
Carl Nii Addo
Executive Director
