Takoradi Polytechnic impounds staff’s taxicab

An employee of the Takoradi Polytechnic in the Western Region who wrongfully used a colleague’s money to purchase a taxicab has had the vehicle impounded by the Polytechnic authorities.

The Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) wrongfully paid the salary arrears of another staff of the polytechnic into the bank account of Mr. Edmund Okyere, a security officer of the institution.

Explaining the circumstances leading to the seizure of the vehicle to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, Reverend Professor Daniel Nyarko, Rector of the polytechnic, said it came to his attention that 29-months salary arrears of a staff of the polytechnic was paid into another staff’s account.

The Rector said he personally followed the matter up to the CAGD in Accra and after satisfying himself with the explanations, he ordered internal investigations, which proved that Okyere wrongfully cashed the money, and the vehicle was subsequently impounded.

Mr Okyere’s attention was drawn to the matter and was asked to refund the money or the vehicle would be sold to defray the cost.

The Rector explained further that other staff of the Polytechnic, who found unusual money in their accounts, reported it to him, the CAGD was notified, and the anomaly duly rectified.

Asked why he did not report the incident to the police, Prof. Nyarko said he wanted to solve the matter internally but unfortunately, Mr. Okyere went public, accusing him (Rector) of wrongfully seizing his vehicle.

“How can I impound my own staff’s vehicle without any cause, or is he the only staff that had purchased a vehicle at the Polytechnic”, he queried.

Prof. Nyarko intimated that some of the staff became suspicious when Mr. Okyere brought the vehicle to the Polytechnic Auto Mechanic shop for repairs and when some staff inquired from him how he purchased it he told them it was through a bank loan.

In fact, the dishonesty shown by Mr. Okyere made it difficult for the Polytechnic to entrust him with the school property, he added.

“Though he could not be sacked because it is a public institution, I shall remove him from the security outfit to another department,” he revealed.

At the time of the visit to the polytechnic on Tuesday July 17, the vehicle was still in the custody of the Polytechnic authorities.

Source: GNA