The Accountant-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Ahmed Idris, has cleared the Director of Finance and Account of the Ministry of justice, Joshua Kadmi and one Abuh Danjuma of wrongdoing.
Recall that an Integrity and Transparency Watchdog had petitioned the AGF over alleged diversion of N104, 842, 800 meant for DTA payment.
The, thereafter, accountant-general set up an investigation panel to probe the allegation involving the duo.
Following the submission of the report, the AGF, in a memo signed by Anamekwe C.N, the Director of Treasury Inspectorate, cleared the directors of the allegation, saying that the payment was done with necessary approval from the approving authority.
The AGF said: “That the allegation bordering on money in “Ghana must go” bags Bureau De Change, e.t.c, could not be substantiated with facts by the petitioner and the team considered it null and void.”
The panel also justified Mr Kadmi’s action in the expenditure, saying that all the expenditures incurred by the ministry in November-December 2021 were in the appropriation act of 2021.
According to the memo, no payment was made in the ministry without the approval of the solicitor General/Permanent Secretary.
The panel also unraveled that, the payment made through the account of the project accountant, was due to the fact that the beneficiaries were not on the GIFMIS Employee payable module whose payment to such Individuals could be possible only through intermediary.
“All the payment vouchers were prepared according to the provision of Financial Regulation i.e the PV’s were checked enter into the vote book and checked by the Internal Audit,” the memo added.
The panel advised that the petitioner to always verify facts before writing on matters relating to government expenditure, stressing the consequence of wrong whistleblowing.
The panel further advised federal ministry of justice to ensure compliance with all necessary rules/guidelines regarding government expenditure to avoid complacency.
