CHIEF DIRECTOR CRIES OUT

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

 

The Commission of Enquiry investigating the payment of judgement debts yesterday heard how the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection has refused to pay expenses incurred by its former Chief Director.

Valentine T. Kuuzume who was at the ministry from 2006 until his retirement in 2009 appeared before Sole-Commissioner Justice Yaw Apau, complaining bitterly about the ministry’s attitude towards the claim for his medical and other expenses totaling GH¢6,414.44 and $1,960.

He said unless the commission intervened, the ministry headed by Nana Oye Lithur might not pay the amounts.

Testifying yesterday, Mr. Kuuzume who was appointed Chief Director from then Ministry of Information and National Orientation in 2005 before being transferred to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWAC) told Justice Apau that there were outstanding medical bills as well as using his personal funds to meet expenses of the ministry in order to save “some embarrassing situations.”

When the commissioner asked him why he had not sought a court order to claim the supposed expenses, the retired civil servant said he did not want the government to incur more debt saying “I am relying on this commission because of the attitude of the ministry up to date.”

He said the Audit Service gave a clearance for the Ministry of Finance and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to process the payment but the ministry has refused to pay.

There is a lack of initiative or sheer wickedness on the part of the ministry. Everything has been cleared but I still cannot get my money,” Mr. Kuuzume lamented.