Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo has moved to challenge a $1 million surcharge against him.
A statement from Mr Osafo-Maafo Wednesday said he has instructed his lawyers “to commence legal process to challenge a disallowance and surcharge imposed by the Auditor- General.”
According to the embattled statesman, the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo erred “in law and professional procedures in the exercise of his powers…”
Why was the Senior Minister surcharged?
Mr Osafo-Maafo superintended over the payment of $1 milion to Kroll and Associates Limited for some consultancy services.
Using a single-source procurement process, the United Kingdom Company was contracted in 2017 to “review electronic evidence, identify assets abroad and manage a joint Civil and Criminal Assets recovery process.”
By September 2018, $1 million, the equivalent of GH¢4.86 million was made to the company as full payment for its services.
But, the Auditor-General has challenged the arrangement. He explained that by Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, the contract required parliamentary approval because it involved a foreign company.
Mr Domelevo also said Mr Osafo-Maafo’s reply to his queries over the contract with Kroll Associates to provide consultancy services was unsatisfactory.
His demand for proof of work done by Kroll Associates has also not been satisfied. He said: “We want evidence of work being done” not “assurances”, the Auditor-General told Joy FM.
The ‘approval’ also came two months after the contract had already been signed, he said. The Auditor-General explained, the contract was signed on September 26, 2017, but the purported approval came on November 14, 2017.
“So there are a whole lot of questions,” he said.
Mr Osafo-Maafo is now heading to court to challenge the surcharge.
Below is the full statement:
