The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has confirmed that state property was actually found in the private office of Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Regional Integration and NEPAD. The items included a spilt air-conditioner, computers, printers, a fax machine and furniture.
Dr Apraku has denied using funds from the Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB) to establish a private office at Dzorwulu in Accra, saying that, he instituted investigations into an alleged ?3 billion scandal at the Board and could therefore not have misappropriated funds. He also challenged the SFO to give him a copy of the report.
But the Serious Fraud Office says it is not part of its duty to provide a copy of the docket on the alleged ?3 billion scandal at Board to Dr Apraku.
According to the Executive Director of the SFO, Theophilus Cudjoe, a complainant’s obligation towards the SFO, ends once he or she finishes filing a complaint, stressing that “if you are a complainant, it does not mean the investigations belong to you”.
Mr Cudjoe made this known when he and his deputy, Tetteh Mensah met reporters of the “Evening News” in Accra.
He said during their investigations, they found out that the private office o Dr Apraku was equipped with the Board’s property. The SFO therefore wrote a letter to the acting Director of the GFZB, Andy Appiah-Kubi to retrieve the items from Dr Apraku’s private office.
Mr Cudjoe noted that investigations were currently ongoing to ascertain how the property of the state got to the Minister’s private office. He said the SFO was wrapping up its findings and would come out with a docket on the case by the end of the month.
Source: GhanaWeb
