Export Promotion Authority Blows Ghc16million Without Approval …Auditor General

The Auditor General’s Report on Public Boards, Corporations and other Statutory Institutions has flagged the spending of GH¢16.83 million on administrative and operational activities without an approved budget.

The spending had happened from 2017-2019, the report said.

It also noted that GEPA received GH¢15.73 million from the Exim Bank for export development. However, the funds were disbursed without any approved budget.

“We entreated the Authority to seek retrospective approval from Parliament for the utilization of Exim Bank funds and inform us accordingly,” the report said.

Meanwhile, the report also highlighted that GEPA’s Acting Director of Finance did not submit, the financial statements for the years 2017 and 2018, to the Auditor-General for validation and certification. 

The AG, therefore, urged the Executive Secretary to ensure that the Acting Director of Finance prepares and submit to the Auditor-General for validation and certification, the financial statements for the years 2017 and 2018.

“We noted that management did not prequalify four Travel and Tour Companies before engaging them in ticket transactions amounting to GH¢316,103.54.”We recommended that Management should ensure that all business entities meet the statutory prequalification criteria outlined in section 21 of the Public Procurement Act before they are considered for businesses”, it highlighted.