Dr Michael Gyamerah, a Chemical Engineer in the United States on Tuesday accused chiefs in the Pai Traditional area of misusing compensations paid to communities by the Volta River Authority (VRA).
The VRA is paying about GH? 138 million full settlement of compensation claims for lands compulsorily acquired and were flooded as a result of the construction of the Akosombo Hydro Electric Dam.
Dr Gyamerah said the Lands Commission ignored a court injunction leading to payment of GH? 5.8 million and the chiefs are ?just blowing the money without accounting to anyone.?
He was testifying before the Judgement Debt Commission on compensation payments made by the VRA to communities in the Pai Traditional Area in the Eastern Region in 2009.
He said the Lands Valuation Division of the Lands Commission failed to research the tradition of the town and through ?gross negligence aided and abetted the payment of more than GH? 280,000.00? to an Otiso chief who is not entitled to.?
He told the Commission that the total land area valued by the Lands Commission was incorrect while some chiefs, individuals and communities ?fraudulently benefited? from the VRA resettlement compensation.
?Not all the communities deserve the compensation payments and I wonder how even a destooled chief, Nana Bediako got paid huge sums and the Lands Commission could not flag this?oh my God.?
He informed the Commission that Kojo Abban, a surveyor made ?flaws? in his report that resulted in fraudulent reimbursements to some individual chiefs and people.
Dr Gyamerah explained that 60 per cent of the first tranche compensation was paid to the Surveyor as consultation fee although the spreadsheet showed that 10 per cent valuation fee based on the total compensation was due to paid to the Surveyor.
According to him the Surveyor?s fee alone based on the total compensation would amount to GH? 13,833,606.80.
The witness submitted bulky documents about the history of the Pai community and correspondence on how payments were illegally effected to the Commission.
Dr Gyamerah expressed wonder how officials paid with tax payer?s money often failed in their duties to protect public interest and national purse leading to the state loosing huge sums of money to ?selfish individuals.?
He said the ?Association of VR Flooded Lands Compensation Claimants? chaired by Krachiwura Nana Mprah Besemuna III was formed ?ostensibly to serve as a conduit to siphon 15 per cent of the GH? 138 million.?
He quoted the objective of the association as to ?establish a reimbursable fund which shall be used to facilitate and procure an early, expeditious and timely release and payment by Government of Ghana (GoG) of the agreed tranches of compensation.?
He questioned what ?facilitation? was required for government to pay debt it owed ?these impoverished communities??
Dr Gyamerah told the Commission that the agenda of the ?Claimants? was ostensibly to influence public officials to ?facilitate and procure? payment of compensation monies after the government had paid the first two tranches in 2009 and early 2010.
He said the ?disturbing facts? were that documents showing signatures of one Nana Diawuo Bediako II purportedly, representing Pai Traditional area were completely different on the Lands Valuation Board Pay Voucher.
?It should be obvious that compensation money paid to individuals who lied to the government despite protestations of the people in the area affected will eventually end up causing the GoG financial loss when legal action is brought against it,? he said.
The total compensation to 69 flooded communities in the Volta basin is GH? 138 billion. They have already received about GH? 72 million while 67 million remain outstanding, he told journalists after the sitting.
He mentioned some individuals purported to have received various sums, as Opanin Kwasi Antwi ? GH? 4.1 million, Mama Efede ? GH? 3.2 million and GH?1.8 million. Nana Adae GH? 1.8 million, Professor Danso/Gyamfi GH? 1.4 million, Nana Kagya GH? 1.8 million, Nii Dordada GH? 1.6 million, Nana Diawuo GH? 1.8 million and Nana Amatakyi GH? 1.8 million. GNA
