FDB BOSS IN CORRUPTION

BY: COLLINS BOATENG AND ERIC K. AMPONSAH
The Progressive Nationalist Forum a Non-governmental organization whose aim is to fight corruption has leveled a number of malfeasances against the Food and Drug board director.
Mr. Fred Amankwa Sarfo, the General Secretary of the group in a press briefing yesterday accused the FDB boss of spending 84, 000.00 thousand dollars equivalents to 1,201,200,000.00 old Ghana cedis for renting a two year house apartment, 144,000.00 thousand dollars equivalent to 2,059,200,000.00 old Ghana cedis per year for renting an FDB office and a Toyota V8 land cruiser for his official use in addition to his official vehicle.
He said, the above expenses do not tally with the financial administration Act of the Public Procurement Act. Of the 1992 constitution which is a serious issue of corruption. It is a clear violation and must be dealt with; he said the group has petitioned CHRAJ to investigate into the case.
He said when the issue came to public domain, the FDB directors reactions prove unsatisfaction and explained that he took those decisions with the blessing of Ministry of Health.
According to the group, Mr. Mpuni accepted that he rented an official residence at a cost of 84,000.00 dollars (1,201, 200, 000, 00) for two years, 7,000.00.dollars to 12,000.00 dollars or144, 00dollars (2,059,200,000.00) per year. And that the V8 land cruiser was allocated to him for long distance travel by the Minister of Health.
Meanwhile, the group said the above expending were not recourse to the governing board of the FDB but instead a sole instructions of Mr. Mpuni.
“We stand by our position that the FDB boss abused his office and was in a conflict of interest situation when he identified that the property at Kanda himself, okayed the “renting” of the property, and went ahead to occupy the said property” her stated.
The group has charged the FDB director to come out openly and explain to the public who negotiated and at what price and to what extend was the interest of Ghana factored into the negotiation.
Is the 84,000 alleged rent actually a mortgage payment in full or in part?
What is the average cost of the houses at Kanda and the best deal we could have made?
Whose chose the negotiating team and why they did not follow the procedures in the public procurement act, and many questions they inquire the FDB boss explain to the general public.
Mr. Aankwa Sarfo said, the decisions of the FDB boss by the Minister does not make the decision legal as it is required that any major decisions of expenditure such as the case of Mr. Mpuni should be approve by the governing board.
The government should carry out comprehensive review of public board and agencies with regards to financial expenditure to help curb corruption and lose of state funds.
Reacting to the allegation raised by the group, Dr. Steven Opuni said the approval by Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor, the Minister of Health.
He said those decitions were taken without recourse to the governing when Board because it is a normal practice when huge monies are involved.
Dr. Opuni said, if FDB needs to procure anything above the threshold of the officially approved financial level of the FDB, Ministerial tender Review Board.
He described the actions of the group as mischievous who are being used against him in his quest to ensure that standardized food and