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The Auditor-General is pursuing Joe Gyaten, a driver who failed to deliver approximately three million male condoms and other contraceptives, valued at GH¢1.34 million, to the Regional Medical Stores (RMS) in the Eastern Region.
On August 22, 2022, Mr. Gyaten was assigned to deliver the contraceptives, including 120,000 vials of Depo-Provera (a birth control shot), but the consignment never reached its destination. As of today, Mr. Gyaten has not accounted for the missing items, prompting the Auditor-General’s investigation in accordance with Section 96 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921). The Act states that any person responsible for the deficiency, loss, damage, or destruction of government property commits an offense and is liable to imprisonment or a fine.
The discovery of these irregularities was detailed in the latest Auditor-General’s Report on the public accounts of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), revealing financial irregularities amounting to over GH¢2.41 billion in 2023. These irregularities include cash, tax, payroll, debts and loans, stores and procurement, contracts, and rent. Specifically, stores and procurement irregularities accounted for GH¢2.06 million, including the GH¢1.34 million in unaccounted store items.
The audit revealed the irregularities through the Temporary Central Medical Stores Requisition and Issue Voucher No. MOH/GHS 308088, dated August 22, 2022. A follow-up investigation showed that Mr. Gyaten failed to deliver the contraceptives to the storage facility, leaving their whereabouts unknown and raising concerns of potential misappropriation or mismanagement of public resources.
The Auditor-General has directed the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health (MOH) to ensure the Head of the Temporary Central Medical Stores recovers the GH¢1.34 million from Mr. Gyaten. The recovered funds should be deposited into the Auditor-General’s Recoveries Account at the Bank of Ghana (BoG). Failure to comply may result in the Chief Director and the Head of the Temporary Central Medical Stores being held personally liable for the debt.
In response, the MOH has referred the matter to the Health Intelligence Unit for further investigation, working closely with the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.
