[ 2014-07-22 ]

Korle Bu audit reveals massive financial malfeasance
The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) was in 2013
deprived of Ghc140, 776.30 meant for development
projects, according to an interim forensic audit
report done on the pharmacy department of the
hospital.

The audit, which covered the period between
January 2012 and December 2013, was in response to
allegations and reports of misappropriation of
funds at Korle Bu, Ghana’s biggest referral
hospital.

A draft report of the audit, of which
Myjoyonline.com has copy states that, “revenue
per Turnover Report in Persol [the accounting
software] stood at Ghc7, 343,524.37 as against
revenue banked and used in preparing financial
statements of Ghc7, 202,748.07…a difference of
Ghc140, 776.30”.

Auditors’ review of transactions at the 24 Hour
Pharmacy of the hospital for instance, showed that
only Ghc65, 600 out of a total of Ghc194, 535
purchases made at the pharmacy was accounted for.

“Our examination of daily sales summary showed
direct refunds being made at the 24HR unit for
medicines purchased by clients totaling Ghc77,
191.61 and Ghc53, 383.29 in 2012 and 2013
respectively, without prior approval or
involvement of the Accountant," the auditors noted
in the summary of finding and recommendation.

Accountants also failed to enter the transaction
into the appropriate books hence a discrepancy of
Ghc400, 663.52, Ghc96, 638.86 in 2012 and 2013
respectively, according to the interim audit
report.

The 29-point summary of findings pointed to many
instances of dereliction of duty and neglect of
procedure, remarking in one occasion that “there
are no operational manuals more so, none of the
staff [at the pharmacy] has ever received any
training on manual handling”.

The Pharmacy Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching
Hospital as at noon Tuesday was closed as staff
protests a directive to three of their colleagues
to proceed on compulsory leave.

The directive, contained in a letter signed by
Board Chairman Eddie Annan, named the three
persons- Stephen Corquaye, Raymond Tetteh and Eric
Kyei - all union leaders and asked them to take a
vacation to allow for the forensic audit to be
conducted at the department.

The three had earlier accused the acting CEO; Rev
Albert Botchwey, the board chairman, Eddy Annan
and the entire management of the hospital of
stalling activities at the pharmacies including
taking over the procurement of pharmaceutical
products.

Staff of the hospital are also said to be gearing
up to force the acting CEO of the Hospital, Rev.
Albert Okpoti Botchwey out. They claim Rev. Botwe
has refused to hand over the office of CEO to the
Head of Medical Affairs, Dr Samuel Asiamah,
despite being directed to do so by former Health
Minister Sherry Ayitey.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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