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BNI investigates Mahama's gov't officials over missing $4m

Millions of dollars have been found missing from the National Communications Authority (NCA)

Eugene Baffoe-Bonney

They are being probed for allegedly taking $4 million from the accounts of the National Communications Authority (NCA) and failing to account for it.

Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid disclosed that the three officials conspired with a private citizen, George Oppong to commit the act.

This financial malfeasance has been blamed on some members of the previous board under the John Mahama administration

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Eugene Baffoe-Bonney, former Board Chairman of the NCA; Alhaji Osman, former Deputy National Security Coordinator; William Tevie, former Chief Executive Officer of the NCA were named for engaging in the act.

The Information Minister speaking on Accra-based Joy FM said the erstwhile administration of John Mahama had contracted an Israeli company, NSO Group Technology Limited, to supply listening equipment at the cost of $6 million, to enable the authorities to monitor conversations of persons suspected to be engaged in terror activities.

The importation of the equipment from an Israeli company was even concealed from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration as the equipment were reportedly moved into a private property at the time the NPP took over – with no documentation at the National Security Secretariat.

There was no inventory nor traces of it in the handing over notes left behind, making the whole transaction suspicious.

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He said a local agent, Infraloks Development Limited, was also charging $2 million to facilitate the transaction, bringing the total sum to $8 million.

According to him, National Security, which did not have the funds for the equipment, allowed the NCA, which supervises the use of such equipment to fund the project.

The NCA top officials, he revealed, withdrew $4 million from the NCA’s kitty but gave only $1million to the Israeli firm.

The officials withdrew $4 million from the accounts of the NCA and paid $1 million into the accounts of the Israeli company.

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"They took $4 million from NCA accounts and paid $1 million to the Israeli company and then deposited $3 million in the accounts of the local agent, one Mr George Oppong and proceeded to share the $3million among themselves," the minister added.

He gave a breakdown of how the $3 million was shared. "Mr. Eugene Baffoe-Bonney took $200,000; George Oppong took $100,000; William Tevie got $150,000, Alhaji Osman received $70,000 whiles one other person got $500,000."

He said apart from Alhaji Osman, the others have admitted to the crime and have been given bail after the BNI interrogated them.

He noted that Alhaji Osman is, however, at large and wanted by the BNI.

Hamid revealed that Mr George Oppong has refunded $1 million whiles Mr Baffoe-Bonney promised to refund $40,000.

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"BNI hasn’t even decided at this stage because they believe that the money must be returned…If they succeed in retrieving the money then they will decide their next action," Mr. Hamid said.

According to him, the transaction was a clear case of top officials colluding to plunder the state coffers.

"The reason why this is a classic case of 'create, loot and share' is that…it was basically Alhaji Osman acting as Deputy National Security Coordinator, who spearheaded this deal. …People cannot just go and open a state vault and take whatever that is in there," Hamid concluded.

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