An audit report shows airport staff welfare funds were not transferred to the required institutions
Ghana Airports Company has not paid over GHS7 million welfare funds deducted from workers to Fund Managers
An Auditor General’s report has shown that management of the Ghana Aiport Company Limited has not transferred over seven million cedis of welfare deductions they made from the staff to the various fund managers and SSNIT.
“We noted that the Company had not transferred a total of GH¢7,553,997.10 as welfare and other insurance deducted on behalf of staff to the various Fund Managers. We recommended to Management to honour this obligation as entrusted to them,” the report stated.
The report also revealed that the company overspent its approved budget for 2020.
“Contrary to Regulation 23 and 27 of the Public Financial Regulations, 2019 (L. I. 2378), the Company had spent above its approved budget by a GH¢25,695,842.64. Non-compliance with the above Regulation had accounted to this irregularity. We recommended to Management to spend within budget as it put stress on the financial position of the Company”.
This revelation comes in the wake of the tension at the Airport company between the workers and management. Workers of the company demonstrated demanding the transfer of their funds to the respective fund managers.
Their demand was after the physical assault of a worker by Yaw Kwakwa, the Managing Director of the company during a staff meeting over their 13-month arrears.
The unfortunate act that was allegedly captured on video has further increased the agitations from the workers who have been demanding the removal of Mr Kwakwa over mismanagement for a while now.
Also, the Ghana Airport Company has been sued by SSNIT over its failure to pay the contribution of workers.
Speaking about the current tense moment in the company, the chairman of the local chapter of the Public Services Workers Union, Abdul Isaka Bamba described the physical assault on the worker as unfortunate.
Mr Bamba further indicated that the failure of the company to release the funds has brought untold hardship on staff who are unable to access loans from their credit union.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
