“You are under oath” — PAC clashes with ex-Defence Ministry official over missing assets

Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed the immediate interdiction of a former Director of Procurement and Supply Chain Management at the Ministry of Defence over his role in the extension of a vehicle supply contract linked to unaccounted state assets valued at GH¢4.8 million.

The directive was issued on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, during a sitting of the committee chaired by the Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, Mrs Abena Osei-Asare.

The officer involved, Mr Frank Oliver Kpodo, served in the role for more than seven years before leaving the post in May 2025. He has since been transferred to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

Mrs Osei-Asare instructed the ministry to take immediate action, stating that Mr Kpodo’s conduct fell short of public service standards. “The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources should interdict this man,” she said during proceedings.

The matter centres on a GH¢4.8 million contract between the Ministry of Defence and a supplier, Global Supply Network, for the procurement of Suzuki Grand Vitara vehicles intended for border surveillance operations during the December 2024 general election.

The issue was flagged in a special audit report submitted to Parliament earlier this month as part of a broader review of GH¢68.7 billion in government arrears and payables.

Auditors rejected the payment claim after a Stores Receipt Advice dated October 12, 2024, indicated that the vehicles had been delivered, although they were not found at the ministry during a subsequent audit inspection.

Appearing before the committee, Mr Kpodo disputed the date on the document. He maintained that the Stores Receipt Advice was actually dated December 10, 2024, five days after an inspection team comprising officers from procurement, transport, internal audit and stores had examined and certified the vehicles on December 5, 2024. However, auditors insisted that the vehicles were not available at the time of their verification.

When pressed to confirm whether the vehicles were currently in the custody of the ministry, Mr Kpodo failed to give a direct answer, prompting a sharp response from the committee chair. “Someone who cannot say yes or no is lying. You are under oath, remember,” Mrs Osei-Asare told him.

Mr Kpodo later explained that following delivery, the supplier requested the return of the vehicles in January 2025 due to delays in payment. He said he advised management to extend the contract and allow the supplier to retain the vehicles until funds were released.

He further told the committee that this advice was given verbally to his supervisor, identified as the Administrative Director, Mr Elawiti, and the Director of Finance, without any written documentation. “They were all verbal,” Mr Kpodo said.

The contract was initially extended to May 2025 and subsequently to August 2025, as payment delays persisted. Mr Kpodo confirmed that by August 2025, the vehicles had still not been returned to the ministry. He had vacated his position three months earlier.

The committee raised concerns that although the original contract was duly executed, the extensions were undertaken without formal approval from the Chief Director or the Minister of Defence. Mrs Osei-Asare questioned the basis of Mr Kpodo’s actions.

In response, he insisted that he had merely offered advice rather than issuing directives, a position the committee rejected.

The Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr Ernest Brogya Genfi, who was present at the hearing, indicated that the matter would be referred to the Attorney-General for possible prosecution.

The committee also directed that the store manager who signed the Stores Receipt Advice, members of the inspection team that certified the vehicles in December 2024, and representatives of Global Supply Network appear before it to assist with further investigations.

Mrs Osei-Asare additionally queried Mr Kpodo on his relationship with the supplier, noting that the company had previously supplied batteries to the ministry. Mr Kpodo denied having any personal links with the firm.

The committee observed that the vehicles, reportedly procured under an emergency arrangement ahead of the 2024 general election, were never deployed for their intended purpose, raising further questions about the justification for the procurement.

Mr Genfi told the committee that key documents relating to the contract, including the purchase agreement and unit pricing, had not been presented at the sitting but would be submitted before the close of the day.

Mr Kpodo also told the committee he could not recall the unit cost of each vehicle, despite prior notice of the issues under review.