GHC 1 Million Blown On Condoms...Don't Blame Gov't Says NDC MP

Member of Parliament for Bia East, Hon RichardAcheampong, has absolved the Mahama administration from financial misappropriation in the supply of condoms valued at more than GHC 1million to the Ghana Health Service (GHS). He was commenting on a media report that the government has blown 1 million cedis to procure condoms for the nation. The Daily Guide newspaper on Tuesday published with a screaming headline "Gov't Blows GHC 1m On Condoms" on its frontpage. According to the story, "The Deputy Procurement Officer of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Araba Kudiabor, has admitted her outfit's guilt for by-passing the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to procure 10 Great Wall Hovers vehicles through sole-sourcing at a total cost of GHC 546000 for the GHS... "...Another company was also selected to supply condoms valued at more than GHC 1 million without following law. Answering queries on the procurements at yesterday's sitting of the Public Accounts Commitee (PAC) of Parliament, Ms. Araba Kudiabor said it was an emergency situation and apologised to the Committee for that infraction." Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo, Hon. Acheampong noted that the report is "misleading because this has nothing to do with government." According to him, the blame should be laid on the doorsteps of the state agency or department and the civil servant(s). "Due to the fact that ultimate responsibility lies with government, we tend to blame everything on the government. Then those institutions that are mismanaging our affairs and misappropriating funds, are left scot free. They are the ones (mis-)managing State resources, and should be held accountable,” he added.

Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana