The official residence of the Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority has 11 air conditioners, after the renovation of the residence alone cost a whopping GHc 1 million.
The Director General, Kwame Owusu, said the number of ACs was reasonable because of the number of rooms added in the renovation of the colonial style residence.
“The places that I listed to you, for each one of them to have air conditioner will be 13, so the 11 is not even enough and by the way, we don’t put them on all together,” he said at a Press Conference on Tuesday.
Following the renovation, the former wooden residence now has “four bedrooms on the main structure, a living room, a dining room, kitchen, a family room, a library and a basement. That is the main structure.”
“We also have a guest house which should befit a Director General, for that matter where you can have a guest of your counterpart where they can stay. That one is a one bedroom, a dining room, living room and a porch that has also been erected,” he added.
Other claims
Mr. Owusu also confirmed claims that the Authority was to have paid an amount of GHc135,000 to Luxe Suites Hotel, which he owns, for an end-of-year party for the staff of the Maritime Authority.
He however said the amount was to cover food for 500 people and not 100 as being speculated.
“We will like to also respond to the issue of the Authority having GHc135,000 for end of year party. It is true; there was a GHc115, 000 of the cost of the food for 500 people. It is in management records. Some people have gone out of their way to state that there was less than 100 people. I want to bring to your attention that we have 200 workers.”
He however rejected claims that the Authority blew an amount of GHc 10,000 on lunch for only eight people.
Mr. Owusu said such reports were mischievous and a calculated attempt to smear his reputation.
He said the amount was spent on 17 management members for multiple meetings and not on a single meeting.
Transport Minister orders probe
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, has directed the board of the Ghana Maritime Authority to investigate the alleged misappropriations.
The Transport Minister in a statement said the board is expected to make its findings available to him for an appropriate decision to be made.
However, there are concerns about whether the board will do a fair job, considering their links to the Director-General.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa | citinewsroom.com | Ghana