Ho Technical University
There is a simmering tension among students, lecturers and management of the Ho Technical University (HTU) over alleged financial malfeasance and misappropriation by the university’s management.
Lecturers of the university claimed, they are fed-up with the development and can no more sit aloof and hope things will get better.
In a press statement issued via social media and signed by the Chairman of the HTU chapter of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), Albert Laurent Sakabutu, he said the university management is allegedly involved in unlawful acts such as procurement breaches, financial malfeasance and unfairness in appointments and promotions.
The nine-point release which gave details to the claims of the lecturers accused the management of inflating contract sums since the reconstitution of the Entity Tender Board in line with the Public Procurement Act 2016 (Act 914 as amended) on the 1st of July 2016. Chief among the inflated contracts is the renovation of the AR-Block (Now Afadjato Block).
Details of Misconducts
The release said the recommendation by the erstwhile Entity Tender Board Chaired by then Council Chairman, Prof. Mawutor Avorke to reduce the contract sum from GH¢600,000 to GH¢100.000 was ignored by the new Board, Chaired by the Interim Vice Chancellor of HTU, Prof. Emmanuel Kodzo Sakyi. The Board went ahead and awarded the contract for over GH¢600,000.
The statement accused also the former Dean of Students, now Interim Pro Vice Chancellor, Dr. Ben Honyenuga for signing a power purchase contract for a unit under the University (Volta Premier FM) worth USD 2.344 million on his last day in office as Dean of Students.
His action, according to TUTAG is in contrast with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2016 (Act 914 as amended) because “he does not have the capacity to commit any unit of the University to any financial obligation. Also, it should be noted that the contract sum is beyond the approval threshold of the University and constitutes a breach of the public procurement law and a clear act of willfully causing financial loss to the State.”
“It has become a usual practice in the University to get some goods and services delivered before contracts are awarded. This is intentionally done to take advantage of the procurement process for personal benefits,” Mr Sakabutu stated.
Attempts to reach the management of the university last Wednesday proved futile as they were in a series of meetings, including one with the Regional Police Commander.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (k.duodu@yahoomail.com)