Deputy Masloc boss to face CHRAJ for ‘dishing out’ state money to party faithfuls

The Deputy Chief Executive of MASLOC, Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah, will soon face the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice for allegedly abusing her office. 

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) says it is dragging Ms Zakaria to the commission to answer charges of conflict of office and abuse of office among others during the recent New Patriotic Party (NPP) primaries.

Ms Zakariah, one of the contestants of Yendi Constituency primaries, was found to have used money from the Microfinance and Small Loan Centre to entice delegates.

She admitted to Corruption Watch, an initiative for the Centre for Democratic Development and its partners, that she used her office to facilitate the granting of loans to NPP delegates in her constituency.

She insisted she had not broken any law.

Following the admission of guilt by the deputy MASLOC boss, GII, has taken up the case, noting that it’s worthy of investigation.

The Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Linda Ofori Kwafo, expressed her disappointment on Joy News.

According to her, Ms Zakariah, should not even be at post after admitting her indiscretion.

“I am disappointed at the abuse of office, and there is a need for further investigations into the matter, especially when the woman herself has admitted that she used the funds for the purpose.

“Clearly, when you look at Article 284, a public officer shall not put himself or herself in the position where his or her personal interest is likely to conflict in the performance of her office.

“So, the woman actually engaged in an act that could be described as a conflict of interest situation and we intend to file a case to CHRAJ,” she stressed.

The GII boss also rehashed how public officers take undue advantage of their office for personal gains.

“This is not new, it has happened many times so the earlier we take action to ensure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again, the better it will be for all of us,” she said.

But the Director-General of State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), who supervises the work of MASLOC and other state enterprises, Steven Asamoah Boateng, argued otherwise.

Clearly, in support of Ms Zakariah’s action, he said the fund is available for every Ghanaian and it is not a crime to ‘dish’ it out.

“MASLOC is available to every Ghanaian and once they apply and qualify, they are offered. I am not sure she gave it as an inducive unless you have evidence to prove that…unless you say the people of Yendi do not have the right to apply.

“Unless you tell me the people she gave the money to are not paying back. Unless you tell me its free money. It’s not an abuse of office so CDD cannot jump into conclusion, without giving any evidence,” he argued.

He was, however, quick to add that the SIGA would also investigate the issue and take the appropriate action.