General News of Friday, 4 November 2005

Source: Weekend Crusading Guide

Auditor General Exposes Mischief

?In ?The Searchlight?

An attempt by editor of ?the Searchlight? to put the Auditor-General, Mr. Edward Dua Agyeman in a bad light regarding his outfit?s investigation into the alleged financial improprieties at Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has been exposed.

In an interview, Mr. Agyeman told the Weekend Crusading Guide that during one of PeaceFMs newspaper review programme dubbed Kokrokoo recently, Ken Kuranchie of The Searchlight who was a member of the panelists on the programme asked him ?whether he had written to the bankers of GBC ordering them to cease honouring cheques from GBC?.

The A-G said in response, he denied writing to the bankers of GBC to cease honouring the cheques from GBC. According to him, subsequently, in the Wednesday issue, volume 6 number 93 of the Searchlight, he (the A-G) was called a liar and accused of lying on PeaceFM to the nation. Explaining the facts of the matter, the A-G said that he had on October 14, 2005 wrote to the Chairman of GBC board, Director General, GBC, the Head of Banking, Bank of Ghana (BoG), Managing Director, Prudential Bank and Managing Director, ADB saying in reference to his outfit?s investigation of GBC that, ?To ensure that fair and speedy investigation is carried out I am requesting management including the Board of GBC to maintain the current management staff at post until the investigation is over?. According to him, he had also ?requested that the bank mandate currently held by the Director-General, Ms. Eva Lokko and the financial director, Mr. Kofi Kye should be maintained until the investigation is over and a report issued. Mr. Agyeman said the letter was copied to the Chairman, National Media Commission and the Minister of Information.

This letter, the A-G said was what was scanned and featured on the front page of Ken Kurankye?s Searchlight with the facts twisted ?that Mr. Dua Agyeman had written to the bankers of GBC ordering them to cease honouring cheques from GBC?.

According to him, this letter ?was saying that the Bank mandate currently held by the Director-General and the Financial Director should be maintained until the investigation is over and a report issued. Ken Kurankye twisted the facts to suit his own agenda.