Auditor General’s Report: NSS farming projects failed


The 2012 Auditor General’s report has revealed that seven farming projects of the National Service Secretariat, failed to make profits, contrary to claims by the Secretariat that they were successful.

The report also suggests that the Secretariat failed to maintain proper records of its activities and also failed to get more young people into farming – which was one of the key aims of the farming projects.

Former Coordinator of the National Service Secretariat, Vincent Senam Kuagbenu, had maintained in 2011 that the farms were profitable and successful.

But the Auditor General said: “Out of a total amount of GH¢593,744.23 invested in the farms, management produced records to account for an amount of GH¢82,741.86 leaving a balance of GH¢511,002.37 unaccounted for.

“We also noted that management failed to carry out feasibility studies to inform the investments in the farms.”

The report also says a review of records made available to them indicates the management should have had a second look at the operations of the farms.

The Auditor General said an audit revealed that as at 2011 an amount of GH¢593,000 – excluding allowances paid to personnel – and then total income from sale of farm produce during the same period was about GH¢82,000 resulting in excess expenditure.

The Auditor General’s report indicted the National Service Secretariat for GH¢1.3 million which cannot be account for.

“We did not sight the payment vouchers for 122 payments totalling GH¢1,314,173.01. Such act undermines controls provided for in disbursement of funds.

“We recommended that management produce the payment vouchers or the responsible officials should refund the amount involved into the Secretariat’s account”, said the report. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | George Nyavor | [email protected]

Comments:
This article has 0 comment, leave your comment.