The Minority in Parliament has dismissed a call by Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs) for a forensic audit into accounts of Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) company over the transfer of GH¢40.5 million cedis to the Presidency during the Jonh Mahama administration.
Former Chief Executive of BOST, Kwame Awuah-Darko, is alleged to have transferred the money into to the Chief of Staff’s account at the Bank of Ghana between August 2015 and January 2017.
However, Senyo Hosi, Chief Executive of the BDC said that the transfer was suspicious, holding that the transfer is another example of how politicians using BOST to make money.
He then called for a forensic probe into the matter.
But Minority Spokesperson for Energy Adam Mutawakilu, says a probe will not be necessary because the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) was already looking into the issue.
“The best authority has been given the mandate to investigate and therefore we should allow them to do their job…if they [EOCO] feels that there is a need for a forensic audit, they will engage those people [involved in the transfer]…
“We feel that at the end of the day, we will be vindicated,” he said.
Former officials in the John Mahama administration have defended the payment as monies accrued from the security fees taken from BDCs to make payments on the cost of petroleum products supplied by Goil, an oil marketing company.
Related: NDC MP defends ¢40.5m ‘suspicious’ transfers into Chief of Staff account
Meanwhile, a pressure group known as the Centre for National Affairs (CNA) has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor to initiate criminal investigations into what it claims to be suspected illegal payments by BOST to the previous administration.
CNA said the account into which the money was transferred is unlawful.
Executive Director of CNA, Samuel Odame Lartey, said “there is no statutory approval with regards to the said account in the public domain. The reasons for payment from BOST to be made into the said account and nature and manner by which these monies were used are not known to the public.”
source; myjoyonline
