The Acting Finance Officer of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Bruno Bajuase Chirani, has petitioned the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as well as the Auditor General’s Department to investigate Vice Chancellor Reverend Father Professor Anthony Afful-Broni.
This comes barely a week after the Vice Chancellor terminated his appointment following the appointment of Francis Obeng as the new Finance Officer.
According to the pair of petitions, Rev. Fr. Afful-Broni illegally approved a withdrawal of GH¢5.7 million from the university’s accounts to cover honorarium for some staff.
In the one to EOCO, Mr Chirani cited UEW Registrar Paul Osei-Barima, former Council member and lawyer John Darko, External Solicitor Paa Kwesi Abaidoo and Peter Boateng, a carpenter, as well to be probed.
He claimed that the new Finance Officer was initially brought in from the University of Cape Coast by the Vice Chancellor “to support me with my work since he had sacked and suspended a number of the Finance staffs”.
Mr Chirani, however, explained that he rejected the suggestion on the grounds that he was still acting and so cannot take a decision to constitute a finance team for the tertiary institution.
He alleged that the Vice Chancellor and Mr Osei-Barima connived to pay GH¢924,540 to Paa Badu Construction Limited for the supply of furniture “although no valid contract existed”.
He said the laundered money was paid through the firm to Mr Darko, a member of the University’s Governing Council, “to influence the outcome of an interview to appoint Mr Francis Obeng as the Finance Officer to cover their misappropriation of state funds”.
In the petition to the Auditor General, Mr Chirani alleged that Rev Fr Prof Afful-Broni compromised officers from the AG’s Department to cover his rot.
“Although I cannot specifically say how much was paid them, I know the Vice Chancellor gave them money.
“Proper audit was not done.”
High Court suit
Mr Chirani has also sued the university as well as three officers including the new Finance Officer at a Winneba High Court.
He is fundamentally contending his dismissal as he said no procedures were followed in arriving at that decision.
The case is scheduled to be heard on Monday, November 4.
Source: 3news.com|Ghanan