The Acting Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, has directed that former Vice Chancellor of the University for Professional Studies (UPSA), Professor Joshua Alabi be made to refund over GHȻ 260,000 expended in the procurement of legal services for the school between 2014 and 2017 without evidence of work.
The said amount according to the audited report of Public Boards, corporations and other statutory institutions ending December 2019, said there were no documents to support the transaction.
“We noted during our review that, Management of UPSA, Accra, signed a retainer agreement dated 16th March 2014 and paid an amount of GH¢263,670.00 to Lithur Brew and Company a law firm as a retainer fees without evidence of the provision of any legal services to the University”
The report also observed that the appointment of Lither Brew and Company as solicitors for the university was in breach of procurement laws.
“We also noted that Lithur Brew and Company was appointed through sole sourcing without recourse to the provisions of the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 914).”
Consequently, the Auditor-General has advised the university to hold the former Vice Chancellor to pay back the money.
“We advised that, the former Vice Chancellor; Prof. Joshua Alabi and Lithur Brew and company be made to refund the amount with an interest at the prevailing Bank of Ghana interest rate”.
Portions on the report disclosed that, of the total amount released for the operations of the university, only about 15 per cent has been accounted for with supporting documents.
“We noted that out of a total amount of GH¢2,302,369.67 released to some officers of UPSA to transact official business on behalf of the University, only GH¢353,279.43 was accounted for with the necessary supporting documents leaving a difference of GH¢1,949,090.24 to be accounted for, though the activities for which the funds were released had been conducted long ago”, part of the report reads.
Professor Joshua Alabi is the first Vice-Chancellor of the University who held the post for a cumulative term of 8 years.
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Source: 3 News