The Audit Service has debunked claims that it unlawfully procured some vehicle to undertake its operations across the country.
It said it followed due procedure in procuring the 32 vehicles.
[contextly_sidebar id=”TVVRfNEwcn5HHw0jwKlaToBrNsVpq1rU”]Daily Guide newspaper in a republication on Tuesday, September 5, 2018, reported that the Audit Service had procured 27 vehicles worth GH¢7.6 million without going through the right tender processes.
The report said the vehicles, which comprises five Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, one Toyota Land Cruiser V8 and 21 Toyota IMV Hilux Deluxe were purchased from the Audit Service’s 2017 budgetary allocation, as well as funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
“Although the procurement of the vehicles went through the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), the expenditure was well above the threshold of the Auditor-General, as well as the Entity Tender Committee of the Audit Service,” the report said.
But the audit serve has described the report as inaccurate.
In its press statement, it contends that the procurement of the vehicles went through a national competitive tendering process.
It also noted that although the cost of the vehicles was above the approved limit, the Central Tender Review Board had given it a concurrent approval as required to exceed the initial limit.
“It was also alleged that we bought 27 vehicles at the cost GH¢ 7.6 million. This again is untrue. We bought 32 vehicles at 6.870,511.65; it was alleged that the procurement was made from the “Audit Service 2017 budgetary allocation. This is false – the procurement was made from the 2018 budgetary allocation,” the Audit Service said.
The Service further assured the public of its dedication to protecting the public purse and will abide by all laws in executing its mandate.
“We would like to assure the public that the vehicles were genuinely procured and are being used to carry out several audits across the country. The Audit Service wishes to reassure the public that protecting the public purse is our core mandate. We will continue to honour this call and to be law abiding.”
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citinewsroom.com/Ghana