A former principal Accountant at the Registrar General’s Department is in hot waters for allegedly defrauding the State by over US$163,510.00.
Mr. Tahiru Haruna, according to the Auditor-General’s report, transferred the amount from the Registrar General’s account into his private account in 2014 contrary to the country’s financial regulations.
“Our audit of the accounts of the Registrar General’s Department for the period ended 31st December 2014, disclosed that Mr. Tahiru Haruna, Principal Accountant, transferred US$163,510.00 from the Departmental Account into his private account, thereby defrauding the state of $163,510.00 contrary to Regulation 2 of the Financial Administration Regulations, 2004 (L.I. 1802)” the Auditor-General’s department stated in a special audit report on disallowance and surcharge as at November 30, 2018.
In the report, Mr. Tahiru Haruna admitted to the offence and entered into an agreement for refund. He in the report is said to have “later refunded” the money.
But for his punishment Mr. Haruna per the report has been surcharged $30,877.50 for the amount allegedly embezzled.
“The Auditor-General, in the exercise of his powers, surcharged Mr. Tahiru Haruna an amount of US$30,877.50 an equivalent of GH¢129,685.50 for the amount embezzled.”
He is to pay the said amount into the Consolidated Fund through Registrar General Department’s accounts, but no timelines were given for the payments.
Auditor-General retrieves GHc67m from surcharges
Ghana continues to lose millions of cedis every year due to financial irregularities by Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The Auditor General’s Department in the same report said it has retrieved about GHc67 million arising from monies paid back to the State from institutions who committed financial infractions between 2013 and November 2018.
The Auditor-General in the report said the amount was as a result of follow-up on recommendations in its previous reports.
“Our follow-up on the status of implementation of recommendations in the Auditor-General’s reports for the period 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2017, resulted in the recovery of a total sum of GH¢64,559,121.86 from individuals, institutions and companies who committed financial infractions.”
“Similarly, five individuals, institutions and companies who failed to account for a total amount of GH¢3,018,379.72 owed the state for various financial infractions committed prior to the issue of surcharge certificate refunded a total amount of GH¢2,578,398.00 between July 2017 and November 2018, into the Consolidated Fund…to bring the total recoveries to GH¢67,137,517.86,” the report added.
The report also surcharged some persons whose actions led to the State losing some monies.
The report chastised management of some government institutions for failing to do due diligence thus accounting for the huge financial irregularities recorded in the country every year.
“The recurrence of irregularities identified in the Auditor-General’s reports resulting in the disallowance and surcharge is a direct result of low level of commitment by management to comply with the provisions of the laws and weak internal control systems.”
“I therefore urge the Ministry of Finance to strengthen internal controls, monitor and supervise the activities of officers and impose sanctions on officers who commit such infractions to deter others from committing same,” the report added.
EOCO helping Audit Service retrieve GHC500m surcharges – Domelevo
Meanwhile, the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo, says his outfit has engaged the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to help recover some GHc500 million from individuals and institutions who misappropriated state funds.
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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey | citinewsroom.com | Ghana
