Chris Ackumey
THE PUBLIC Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament yesterday threw out at its sittings, Chris Ackumey, a member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal team, because he was representing a client without authorization.
Mr. Ackumey appeared before the PAC, which is currently probing payment of judgment debts to organizations and individuals by the Mills administration, totaling over GH¢600 million.
He popped up at the committee, claiming he was representing the family of one Kwadwo Amankwatia, who died at Akim Ofoase in the Eastern Region, as a result of police brutalities.
An amount of GH¢11,812 was given to the family of the deceased in 2010 as compensation for the death of their relative.
Mr. Ackumey told the PAC, chaired by Albert Kan-Dapaah, that the estate of the deceased had authorized him to represent them at the parliamentary committee.
However, he could not produce any power of attorney or documentary evidence to support his claim.
Consequently, the committee told him to leave and come with proper authorization from the family of the deceased at a date to be scheduled, as he failed to demonstrate he was acting at the behest of the family.
Mr. Ackumey had informed the PAC he was engaged as a solicitor of the estate of the deceased by the family.
“At all material times, I was involved in the negotiation and payment of compensation due the estate of Amankwatia,” he told the committee.
Asked why he failed to appear before the PAC with any of the family members of the deceased, Mr. Ackumeh said his attention was drawn to them appearing yesterday in the media.
According to him, his clients lived far away in the Eastern and Ashanti regions, adding that all attempts to contact them proved futile.
“I made all efforts to get in touch with Prince Awuah Nyantekyi, who is the head of the family, without success,” Mr. Ackumey stated, asking the PAC to go ahead and hear him because he had all the evidence of the negotiations leading to the payment of the compensation.
He indicated he had documents with him for the hearing but the committee insisted that he come with a proper letter of attorney.
The solicitor for M/S Rockshell, Philip Addison, who also appeared before the PAC without his client, was asked to go for the same reason.
Rockshell received a total amount of GH¢21,368,000 in 2010 from the Mills administration as settlement claim.
Also appearing before the PAC was the wife of one Edward Acquah, who indicated they received compensation car, which was damaged by a military vehicle, leaving one person dead with the driver’s mate sustaining injuries.
The 2010 report of the Auditor-General indicated an amount of GH¢19,377 was paid for the damaged car.
However, Mrs. Acquah told the PAC the lawyer who negotiated for the cash only gave them GH¢7,000.
Another claimant that appeared before the committee was Novotec Limited, which indicated it was contracted to supply air-conditioners and plasma TVs for the AU Village.
According to the officials of Novotec, they received an amount of GH¢594,633, leaving an amount of GH¢573,055 as payment for the supply and the installation of the equipment.
They took the matter to court in 2008 and in 2010, they were settled with GH¢898,000.
By Awudu Mahama
