*$43,000 Car Neglected

*Accounting Books In Shambles

By Livingstone Pay Charlie

The audit report of a three-member committee into the affairs of the Ghana Red Cross Society has uncovered more rot and recommended decisive steps to deal with them.

Apart from the Secretary-General’s unilateral decision to give a catering contract to his wife, it has emerged that a Nissan Patrol vehicle which was bought at the cost of $43,386 has been neglected.

The vehicle, whose engine was bought at the cost of ¢50 million cannot ply the roads currently because it has developed several mechanical faults including over-heating.

The engine was purchased by the Secretary-General without recourse to procurement procedures.

On Wednesday, The Insight learnt that Professor Stephen Adei, President of the Red Cross has asked that the vehicle be repaired. The vehicle was purchased without the knowledge of the management team.

The audit committee remarked that “details of this project should have been discussed with the management team.”

On page 8 of the audit report, it was found that the Secretary-General alone executed the building of staff quarters for health personnel in Tari No. 1 from the US$25,000 donated by Nokia. According to the report, the Secretary-General discussed it at the management level but not with the management implementation team, and stated it was inappropriate.

Also of concern was the proceeds from the sale of a 40-feet container which staff complained was not disclosed to the managmenet team. From the account books, the committee found a serious discrepancy between those presented by the Greater Accra Regional Secretary and the headquarter’s Accounts office.

The Committee recommended that the management committee should investigate the case further.

Further, the disbursement of US$3,000 donated by star 100 was done without prior discussion with the managmenet team, the report states. Currently, there is no salary structure at the Ghana Red Cross Society. Workers nationwide have not been paid for six months and officials say there is no money.

Because of low morale and improper handling of affairs, more than 400 workers have resigned so far from the Red Cross.

The relief agency receives donor funding and government subvention to drive its activities.