The Economic and Organized Crime Office in the Upper West Region in its findings cleared former Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Osei Kuffour Afreh of any financial misappropriation after a group calling itself Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Upper West region accused the former Director of health services of embezzling the directorates’ funds in his attempt to ‘delete’ the accounts of the regional health directorate.
Touching on one of the allegations that has to do with the former Health Director using state funds (the directorates’ money) to service his private infinity SUV vehicle, EOCO indicated in their verdict that, per the laid down procedures of the Ghana Health Services, a Regional Director of Health Service is entitled to a saloon car and a cross country vehicle for his official activities but in the case of the Upper West Region and as of the time Dr. Afreh took over office, a light blue saloon car with registration number GV 3041-14 was available for his use and the cross country vehicle that was available was pronounced unsafe for mobility hence the directorates decision during a core management meeting dated 28th February, 2019 to allow Dr. Afreh who has a vehicle (Infinity SUV) described by one the directors as robust to use it for his official duties and its servicing will be borne by the Upper West Regional Health Directorate, based on this observation that was equally made by Radio Waa’s investigation team led to EOCO exonerating Dr. Afreh of any misappropriation as acts of the GHS permits that, a very reliable source disclosed to myradiowaa.com.
Related article: http://myradiowaa.com/uwr-eoco-clears-ex-director-of-health-services-of-financial-malfeasance/
On signing of 20 cheques by Dr. Afreh on 20th April 2020 as an attempt to delete the account of the directorate as alleged by the group, EOCO observed that the health directorate had an accrued debt of GH¢13,374,666.89 from 2016 – first quarter of 2020 to suppliers of essential drugs and consumables stating that drugs (medicine) has a share of GH¢10,326,249.50, with GH¢3,048, 414.84 for non drugs stressing that the debt stock owed to suppliers made the suppliers denied supplying medicines and consumables to the health directorate and a memo was raised by the procurement manager of the RHD on 17th April, 2020 warranting the signing of 21 cheques costing GH¢1,851, 998.76 to 20 pharmaceutical companies for supplies owed them, GH¢441,394.48 went into payment of non drugs and consumables whiles GH¢1,620,604.28 also went into the payment of drugs noting that the payment were line with the public financial management act 2016 (Act 914) devoid of fraudulent intention as rumored by the “illegal” pressure group. The three member investigative team of Radio Waa 92.1fm in its investigative report dubbed, “UWR: Beyond the allegations: the teeth biting of the success of health directorate” similar observation and others as the team was investigating the issues broadly beyond financial misappropriation.
click on the link below for the full report by radio Waa’s investigative team:
http://myradiowaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BEYOND_THE_ALLEGATIONS-11.pdf
Related article: http://myradiowaa.com/eoco-declares-coalition-of-concerned-citizens-of-upper-west-group-as-illegal/
