National Security of Ghana Blows ¢70BN

It is official! A flawless Castle source has corroborated TODAY Newspaper findings that President John Evans Atta Mills, is highly peeved over the way and manner the National Security apparatus led by Col. Gbevlo Lartey, exceeded its budgetary allocation by more than two Million Ghana Cedis in the 2009 financial year.

Document intercepted by TODAY suggests that the office of the National Security was allocated GH¢19,109,963 for the year 2009, but exceeded its budget in excess of GH¢21,595,192, within the first nine month of the year. That suggests that the budgetary allocation for the outfit exceeded by some 2 Million Ghana Cedis (20 Billion old Ghana Cedis).

A glean into the document shows that the National Security Council which was also allocated GH¢13,577,293, spent in excess of some GH¢18,638,735; meaning that it expended more than Five (5) Million New Ghana Cedi (50billion old Cedis). The two offices within the State Security apparatus thus spent 7 Million New Ghana Cedis (70 Billion Cedis) more than what was allocated to them for the first nine months of the Mills’ administration.

The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Research Department, the document however stated spent within its budgetary allocation.

An obviously angry President Mills, the paper gathered, is thus considering removing Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey and some other members of that office.

The document which is titled “Office of the Government Machinery” gives expenditure returns of government activities from January-September, 2009. It covers the personnel emoluments, administration, service and investment of public services and other state machinery.

Although the National Security outfit was not the only government agency that exceeded its 2009 budgetary allocation, sources at the seat of government, Castle told TODAY that the President has vehemently expressed disappointment about the expenditure of Mr Gbevlo Lartey’s office and that of the Security and the National Security Council.

Sources also hinted that just before the Christmas festivities the President and some high-profiled government officials sought to personally find out from Mr Gbevlo Lartey, how and why he spent more than Two Million Ghana Cedis of his original budget.

In the said meeting, the paper gathered that Mr Lartey and his subordinates could not provide any meaningful and appropriate answers to the queries that were put before them.

Further checks by TODAY revealed that the action of the President was against the backdrop of the NDC’s electioneering campaign promise to cut down on profligate spending when voted into power.

Even though the National Security was yet to officially make this known to the President, TODAY learnt the underhand dealings by the National Security during the Chereponi and the Jirapa by elections contributed to the high expenditure of the office.

Mr Gbevlo Lartey, whose current action and mood could only be described as dejection and frustration is seriously contacting some influential members both within the NDC and government for them to intercede on his behalf to enable him preserve his enviable position as the National Security Coordinator, according to reports.

“This time the Hercules himself (referring to Mr Gbevlo Lartey) is now combing around to organize people to intercede on his behalf and promises not to ever over spend again,” grapevine source told TODAY just before the Christmas festivities. However, those who are yet to receive the rod of the President are some District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies who the paper is told over expended their budgetary allocations.

And those who are unable to provide reasonable and meaningful answers like the former Army officer Col. Gbevlo Lartey risk the possibility of losing their positions.