A committee to investigate allegations that the Chief Financial Controller of PSC Tema shipyard, Mohammed Ismali, paid over $300,000 as contract sum to non-existent companies, has been set up by the Ministry of Transport.
It will also probe, PSC�s majority shareholder Malaysia, which has failed to pay dividends to government, violation of procurement rules and �strange� payments to board members.
Additionally it will investigate the company�s alleged misapplication of funds through, for instance, the payment of bribes to politicians and top police officers to forestall an impending strike action by workers.
The six member inter-ministerial committee is chaired by Ms. Ama Banful of the Attorney-General�s office. The Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, said in an interview that the probe would also assess the commercial performance of the company since its divestiture in 1998, its financial viability, and investigate the reasons underlying the incessant labour unrests, and all tax obligations. The committee is malfeasance, and if so, how it affected the economy negatively, and any other issues that impact negatively on the maritime industry.
Mr Hammah said it had come to light that dubious contracts were awarded to a certain company to maintain the cleanliness of the shipyard�s buildings and provide landscaping at a fee of GH�3,250 a month, even though the company has no janitorial or landscaping expertise.
The probe is also to unearth the truth in the allegation that, JIOE Engineering Company partly owned by the business partner of the Chief Financial Controller, was allegedly paid GH�23,000 at the end of February, 2009 without any work done.
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