A transport officer of the Northern Regional Health Directorate has been suspended after allegedly selling seven vehicles belonging to the Ministry of Health without authorisation.
The officer reportedly sold the vehicles without disclosing the transactions to the relevant authorities or accounting for the proceeds.
According to officials, three of the vehicles were valued at a total of GH¢13,803, while the officer has since returned four of the seven vehicles.
The matter has been reported to the police and is being handled as a criminal case.
The case came to light on Thursday, October 8 during proceedings of the Public Accounts Committee, which is examining issues relating to the management and disposal of state assets.
Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) is Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea told the Committee that disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against the officer pending police action.
“We reported it to the police, they are handling it as criminal. We sued our disciplinary proceeding and he was suspended temporarily pending the police to act
“We also made sure he paid all the amount the STC valued,” he stated.
Ranking Member of the Public Accounts Committee, Samuel Atta Mills, was not pleased with just a suspension handed over to the transport officer as punishment.
“Here is a guy who was not supposed to sell these vehicles. He sold them without disclosing to anybody and he didn’t account to anyone for the money. He sold seven of your vehicles and he is walking free,” he said.
