The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is chasing the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), and others for a debt of GH₵1.2 million.
The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, who revealed this when she appeared before the Public Accounts Committee said they are doing everything within their powers to ensure that the money is paid but has proven unsuccessful.
According to her, they have been sending demand notices, chasing them here and there for the cost of rented space for office and private hostel operations spanning several years but have yielded no results.
“With the Electricity Company of Ghana, what we have done is that we’ve kind of done a barter trade with them, so a settlement plan. We have huge bills from ECG, so now we’ve asked them to offset, we’ve written to ECG to offset what we owe them, take this money out so that we can proceed in that direction.”She said.
“With UBA, Honourable Chair, I’m happy to announce that they have paid everything that is owed to us including a premium that they were supposed to have paid. We are doing our very best, sending demand notices, chasing them here and there and because we really need these students to be accommodated, we try to do our very best to co-work with them and co-exist.” She added.
Commenting on Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED)’s procurement of medical consumables from two unlicensed entities, the Committee said: “So you knew, if you look at paragraph 147, one of the suppliers, Osei Nyame Kesse admitted that they didn’t know about the requirement to be licensed before before distributing drugs but promised to registered at the appropriate authority for future supplier of drugs to the University.”
“This is a very serious indictment. Before you can sell drugs, you need a license, and you are buying from them without them having a license. We must be careful in the entire procurement process so that when entities do not have the appropriate certification from the relevant bodies like FDA, Pharmacy Council, and the rest, we must not engage them because this has to do with human life and therefore, there’s a need for appropriate certification for bodies that we’ve put in place.”
“Maybe subsequently, when you are doing your procurement, make sure that when it has to do with health, such certifications are obtained. FDA, Pharmacy Council, and what have you, so in case something happens you can actually get back to get your appropriate support given.” They recommended it.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
