Amaliba ‘jabs’ PwC for not contacting former SSNIT Boss during audit

Lawyer Abraham Amaliba has alleged that former Director-General of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Ernest Thompson, was not contacted in the audit that has cited him for causing financial loss to the state.

The audit report was presented at a press conference Wednesday, addressed by the current Board Chair, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor and some management staff of SSNIT.

The report cited Ernest Thompson and three others for bloating of contract in the award of the controversial Operating Business Suite (OBS) contract.

But speaking to the AM Show on the Joy News channel Thursday, Lawyer Amaliba, revealed that the key individual at the center of the controversy, Ernest Thompson, was not contacted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the auditing firm.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal team member finds it worrying that an audit can be conducted without speaking to the one being audited.

“Would you believe that PwC never contacted Ernest Thompson?”

Mr. Amaliba was emphatic that even the Auditor-General allows those he audits to have an input before the final report is submitted.

“What if I have explanations, has it been factored?”

Mr. Amaliba believes the move amounts to political witch-hunting and that “more is going to follow”.

He stated that all the charges being slapped on former NDC appointees are just a ploy by the government to divert media and citizens’ attention from the hardship in the country.

“They are really under immense pressure. They haven’t been able to manage this economy to the glory of God…”

Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Andrew Agyapa Mercer, however, shot down Amaliba’s argument, stating that PwC had no business contacting the former SSNIT boss.

Andrew Mercer

Andrew Agyapa Mercer

“Dr. Addo Kufuor (SSNIT board chair) was clear that they engaged PwC to do an operational audit so that management can be better advised as to how to go about their operations going forward…so what is the need to contact Ernest Thompson?

“For what”, he fumed.

“What PwC did was not an investigation, it was an operational audit that gives management information. It wasn’t an investigation,” he argued.

Meanwhile, aspects of a report by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO), reveal that five persons were initially picked up by the police in relation to the embattled deal including one Thomas Samson Owusu.

But four have been cautioned are to face prosecution for willfully causing financial loss to the state

Source: Myjoyonline