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Massive corruption at FDB
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh
A report on the audited accounts of the Food
and Drugs Board (FDB) between January 2006
and December 2008 has unveiled grave
financial malfeasance in which several
millions have gone missing.
The FDB is mandated under the Food and Drugs
Law of 1992 (PNDC 305B) to control the
manufacture and circulation of food, drugs,
cosmetics and other household chemicals to
ensure safety, quality and efficacy.
But according to a report signed by the
Assistant Auditor-General, Ms Roberta
Quarshie, the board, without the authority
of the Controller and Accountant General,
operated four cedi accounts and one dollar
account with three private banks between
2002 and 2006.
The board is said to have withdrawn GH¢796,925.46
and US$629,725.81 from the accounts but
failed to submit payment vouchers, cashbooks
and cheques for audit.
The document also alleged that “unauthorised
receipts were issued in 2006 in the
collection of GH¢35,400 administrative
charges at the Tema office of the board. As
a result, the amount remained unaccounted
for as at the time of reporting.”
The management of the FDB could not also
account for salary receipts in excess of GH¢178,697.40.
According to the report, this came about
after management bloated salaries of
employees over two years.
The document also revealed that amounts of
US$43,260.80 and GH¢137,702.48 granted
officials of the board for various purposes
remained “unretired” as at the time of the
audit making it difficult to determine
whether the amounts were used for the
purposes for which they were intended.
The report, which reveals even more serious
financial and audit lapses, also mentions
the FDB’s failure to disclose $145,524.08
and GH¢75,887.45 in non-tax revenue
collected over the period of the audit.
Management of the board also transferred
US$300,000 of internally-generated funds
into a staff welfare fund with US$10,000 and
GH¢35,000 unaccounted for.
Funds advanced by the Ministry of Health to
the board for the Ghana@50 celebrations
(amounting to GH¢100,000) were not recorded
in any cashbook and the funds were lodged in
an authorised bank account, the report said.
The board also paid a total US$19,094.64 for
the foreign travel costs of 10 non-staff,
non-board members and foreign nationals
whilst 62 payment vouchers totalling GH¢735,734.04
could not be produced for auditing.
The FDB management has yet to respond to the
revelations but sources close to the board
say they have adequate justification for the
monies spent. Management has 30 days to
respond.
Ghanadot
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