Former Vice Chancellor of the University for Professional Studies (UPSA), Professor Joshua Alabi, has disclosed that he was not contacted to respond to the Auditor-General’s report which made adverse findings against him and demanded that he refunds over GHȻ264,000 to the university. The Acting Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, in the audited report of public boards, corporations and other statutory institutions ending December 2019, directed that Prof. Alabi be made to refund the money which was expended in the procurement of legal services between 2014 and 2017 without evidence of work. “We noted during our review that, Management of UPSA, Accra, signed a retainer agreement dated 16th March 2014 and paid an amount of GH¢263,670.00 to Lithur Brew and Company a law firm as a retainer fees without evidence of the provision of any legal services to the University. We advised that, the former Vice Chancellor; Prof. Joshua Alabi and Lithur Brew and company be made to refund the amount with an interest at the prevailing Bank of Ghana interest rate”, the report said. But Prof. Alabi says the Auditor-General’s work was a done in a shoddy manner without regard to fair hearing. “In the first place when you do an audit and someone has questions to answer, you need to let the person know so that the person can respond, when you’re not satisfied, then you can come out with your report, I believe that’s what’s supposed to be done”, he told 3FM’s Dzifa Bampoe in an interview aired on Hot Edition. Asked if he was not given an opportunity at all to respond to the audit, he said “I was not consulted, so I also called Mr. Tony Lither to find out because he has also been asked to pay part of the money, it was also news to him”. He said Tony Lither was duly contracted as solicitor for the university and he worked as such. According to him, all the documents are available to show that he worked including representing the university in court on a number of cases. 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
JUST IN: NDC suspends Atubiga
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has suspended Stephen Atubiga, a communication member of the party for anti-party behaviour. The NDC in a statement noted that during its Functional Executive Committee (FEC) meeting after summoning Mr Atubiga in February in respect of a news item attributed to him captioned “Only useless politicians retire poor” where he made disparaging and unfounded comments about key senior party members including Joshua Alabi, he was told to apologise and retract his statement. The party said although Mr Atubiga at the said meeting profusely apologised never to do or say anything that would bring the name of the party into disrepute and to write officially on his Facebook wall retracting his statement and apologise to Joshua Alabi, recent publications on social media attributed to him on March 8, March 12, 14 among others, denigrating the party and individuals in the party indicate that he is not only in breach of his own promises and hence not reliable but he is further denting the image of the party contrary to article 47(1)(a,b) of the Party’s constitution. “You also failed to write the letter of apology to Joshua Alabi as you earlier promised,” the statement said. At the end of its deliberations, therefore, FEC said it arrived at the decision in accordance with the said articles 48(6), 48(8 a and b) of the Party’s constitution: 1. That with immediate effect, your membership of the NDC is suspended. 2. That the matter be referred to the Party’s Disciplinary Committee for further action. The statement urged Mr Atubiga to cooperate with the disciplinary committee. This comes a day after the party expelled its former Central Regional Chairman, Mr Bernard Allotey Jacobs for “anti-party’ behaviour. Mr Allotey Jacobs had been on suspension for several months. A few weeks ago, he came out to say he was no longer part of the NDC. A letter communicating his expulsion said: “At our meeting on Wednesday, 17 March, the Functional Executive Committee of the NDC considered the report and recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee on the case or misconduct and anti-party behaviour brought against you, Mr Allotey Jacobs, pursuant to Article 48(1) (b) and 8 (b) of the NDC Constitution”. “The Committee’s report, which is herein attached for your attention found you guilty of the said allegations of misconduct, anti-party conduct and recommended, among other things, your immediate expulsion from the party,” the letter signed by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia said. It added: “The Functional Executive Committee acting in compliance of article 48(1) of the NDC Constitution has unanimously adopted the report and accepts fully its recommendation for your expulsion from the party”. “You are, therefore, by the decision of FEC been expelled from the National Democratic Congress and, for that matter, no more recognised as a member of the party and cannot carry yourself as such”, the letter added. It noted: “You are by this letter and, pursuant to article 48(10), directed to return any party properties that may be in your custody and shall forfeit any money, dues or subscription fees made to the party”. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093









