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Ningo Prampram MP Sam Nartey George is pushing for an investigation into the decision of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to donate around ¢ 5.4 million to the Office of Economic and Organized Crimes (EOCO), the Rebecca Foundation, Okyenhene, among others, on behalf of the company. social responsability.
At the committee’s public session on Wednesday, Ningo Prampram MP Samuel George presented an October 29, 2019 letter from GNPC board secretary Matilda Ohene to the CEO, communicating approval. of the board of donations and sponsorships.
About ¢ 400,000 went to support the preparation of the Damba Festival, ¢ 300,000 to the Okyehene 20th Anniversary Celebration, 1.5 million Ghana Cedis to the Okyehene environmental and ecological project and ¢ 550,000 to EOCO.
The Rebecca Foundation raised ¢ 120,000, while $ 30,000 was donated to the Ghana Boxing Association and ¢ 50,000 to the Ghana Journalists Association.
GNPC Deputy Executive Director Joseph Dadzie told the committee that he did not have all the details on the issue as it is the GNPC Foundation that conducts these sponsorship and donation activities.
This led PAC Chairman James Avedzi to question why the GNPC Board was approving the donations rather than the GNPC Foundation Board of Trustees.
Tempers flared when the NPP deputy on the committee, Mohammed Hardi Tufeiru, chimed in, questioning why the committee chairman was questioning the issue when it was not part of the 2017 Auditor General’s Report that the committee was analyzing.
“You said they would appear before the committee to respond to audit issues reported by the auditor general. They are not prepared for this matter to which you submit them. Let’s be consistent with applying the rule, ”Tufeiru said.
James Avedzi, amid the heated exchanges, challenged the PNP deputy to assume his post as president if he believes that something wrong is being done.
“Honorable member, will you listen to me? I am the chair of the committee. What’s your problem? … If I approve a public interest question, I have no responsibility to tell you. I am the chair of the committee. If you want to take over, take it, ”Avedzi said.
Further questioning on the subject stopped after the exchanges. Subsequently, the president ordered that the GNPC appear before the committee at a later date to answer questions on the issues.
Ningo Prampram Sam George tells Joy News that something is wrong with donations to EOCO, Okyehene Palace and other entities, and that there is a need for further investigation.
“I don’t understand how EOCO, which is a statutory body with a funding line in a different ministry; how to give ¢ 550,000 from GNPC to EOCO is corporate social responsibility. After the GNPC told the committee there was money trapped, ”George said.
“I asked them what the general criteria are for considering sponsorship. They said areas of operation, education, and gave a third…. ¢ 1.8 million to Okyehene to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
“I asked them, in what areas do they operate? They said along the coast and in the Volta basin. Is Okyehene Headquarters under the Voltain Basin? Asked Mr. George.
He wants to see the most questioned topic.
“The fact that the GNPC cannot explain to the representatives of the people how it used that money should be cause for concern …
“We look forward to seeing the leadership of the president. He says he will find the right platform so that we can interrogate that issue properly. I leave that to the discretion of my leadership, ”George said.
But NPP MP and high-ranking committee member Kofi Okyere Agyekum says the minority is pursuing political shenanigans as the issue is not covered in the 2017 Auditor General’s report.
“It was just politicking and we should try to avoid those things…. The question was not appropriate, ”he told Joy News.
