Committee makes findings on unwholesome maize(D/G, Monday, February 9,2009. Page 32)

Findings of a five member committee, which investigated the alleged sale of unwholesome maize for human consumption in the Upper East Region has been made public in Bolgatanga.
The Committee, was set up by the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council late last year by the then Regional Minister, Mr. Alhassan Samari to delve into the circumstance under which maize which were being kept in the stores of the RCC and had allegedly gone bad found its way unto the open market.
The Committee was tasked to; first, determine the circumstances leading to the sale of the unwholesome maize and second how the maize got into the market. They were also to determine the beneficiaries of the alleged sale of the maize and any other matter relating to the sale and disposal of the maize.
Some of the findings of the Committee' which was chaired by Mr. Evans Kluste, the Sector Commander of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service, are as follows:
That the maize and some rice declared unwholesome was sold by the Storekeeper without seeking authority from any of her superiors.
Again none of the unwholesome food items was sold in the market for human consumption. All who had access to the food items were adequately informed that the food items were not good for human consumption but only for livestock and poultry. The allegations that the food items were found in the market was therefore purely speculative.
That the maize was not part of the consignment of food items brought in 2007 to mitigate the sufferings of flood disaster victims. Poor management of RCC stores due to ineptitude of the storekeeper.
The storekeeper lacks the practical and requisite experience to manage the RCC’s stores independently.
There is an element of collusion between the Storekeeper and Mr. Charles Ayando, one of the beneficiaries of the sale of the food items.

The Regional Minister was not aware of the presence of the unwholesome food items in the stores as at the time the press conference was held.
The Committee said it viewed the action of the Principal Storekeeper of the RCC as very grievous and this has indeed tarnished the reputation of the RCC, especially the Regional Minister and the Chief Director.
The Committee said in line with the code of conduct for Civil Servants, the Principal Storekeeper’s behavior constituted a gross misconduct which could attract the severest penalty of dismissal.
“However, the Committee tampering justice with mercy and taking into account her newness into the Civil Service without adequate orientation and training, hereby recommend that she should be given fourteen days suspension with commensurate loss of pay.
Again she should be posted out of the RCC to work under a more experienced officer in the stores and Inspectorate Division of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
Again the Committee said it has taken a serious view of the poor management of the RCC stores and has therefore recommended that a more experienced storekeeper should be posted to take charge of the stores and quarterly stock-taking should be done to ensure expiry of certain store items.
“The committee is convinced that none of the food items was sent into the market for sale to unsuspecting buyers as was alleged and therefore dismisses the claim”.
As part of the recommendation the committee said it is of the view that the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) should be tasked to conduct further investigation into the issue and any one found culpable should be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the country.
The Chief Director and Regional Coordinating Director, Mr. Samuel N’lary who read out the finding of the Committee said the RCC after a careful study of the committee’s report said the out gone Regional Minister has accepted the report of the committee and directed that its recommendation be implemented.
He added that the alleged sale of the so-called unwholesome maize for human consumption has practically been proven to be false emphasizing that all who bought the maize including the President of Northern Patriots for Research and Advocacy, (NORPRA), Mr. Bismarck Adongo who first raised the issue were told in advance by the storekeeper that they were not good for human consumption but only for poultry and livestock.
Mr. N’lary insisted that the consignment of maize that went bad and found on the open market did not formed part of the relief package brought in in the wake of the flood disaster but were sent by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to mitigate the suffering of the people.
Mr. N’lary the committee interviewed or cross-examined several persons in connection with the allegation. Some of the key persons, who appeared before the Committee included the Principal Storekeeper, some RCC members of staff who bought the maize and the Chief Director and Head of administration of the RCC.