Agyarko & 2 Others To Be Prosecuted For Operating Secret Accounts...

For unlawfully opening and operating several bank accounts with the express authorizations of the Controller and Accountant General�s Department (CAGD), a former Chief Executive Officer of the then Food and Drugs Board (FDB), Mr. Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko, is to be prosecuted by the Attorney General.

Mr. Agyarko. 56, is currently the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon in the Greater Accra Region.

As the head of the FDB (now FDA-Food and Drugs Authority), Mr. Agyarko is alleged to have, between 2002-2006, opened two cedis accounts and one US dollar account with Ecobank; one cedi account at UBA and another at First Atlantic Bank. These were in addition to lawfully designated accounts with Bank of Ghana.

These accounts were not disclosed to the CAGD and the Auditor-General. This, the report stated, was a clear violation of the Financial Administration Regulation 47(3), which makes it mandatory for any public officer to obtain authority from the CAGD before opening and operating any bank account.

For the 2002-2006 period, the total lodgement into the five illegal accounts were GH7,865,120,307.36 (old cedis) or US$640,775.15. In terms of the new cedis the amount is GH7.8m (GH7.8bn).

A report by the investigative agencies quoted the then FDB Finance Officer, Ms. Genevieve Nelson, as admitting that the FDB management ignored the CAGD�s express order not to open any accounts with the said banks. Ms. Nelson�s admission was confirmed by Mr. Agyarko, who was a signatory to all the illegal accounts.

Between 2002-2006, the FDB printed and used receipts not approved by the CAGD, contrary to FAR 28 (2&3) of 2004. there was also a widespread use of forged documents to allegedly fraudulently siphon monies from the illegal GDB accounts.

The other two former FDB officials to be prosecuted are the former Head of Accounts, Ms. Genevieve Nelson and an Accountant, Mr. Gabriel Tordzro.

Source: The Daily Dispatch