Staff of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) are calling on President-elect John Dramani Mahama to prosecute their Director General, Mr. Thomas Kofi Alonsi, for alleged abuse of office, financial mismanagement, and extravagant spending.
The $14M VLATACOM Controversy
At the center of the allegations is a controversial $14 million contract awarded to Serbian company VLATACOM to install advanced equipment for the Authority’s Vessel Transport Management Information System (VTMIS). According to anonymous sources within the Authority, 60% of the contract amount has already been paid, yet no work has commenced.
“This act of doling out gargantuan state resources is an orchestrated plan by the Director General, Mr. Thomas Kofi Alonsi, and his deputy to ‘create, loot, and share,’” an aggrieved staff member stated.
Lavish Spending and Financial Mismanagement
The staff also accused Mr. Alonsi of excessive spending, including an alleged average monthly expense of GHS100,000 on fuel and per diem. They claim these funds were often misappropriated to finance his personal trips to Builsa North in the Upper East Region, where he contested as an NPP parliamentary candidate.
“Every other weekend, when the DG is visiting his constituency as an aspirant, he writes memos to finance his trips under the guise of official assignments. This has been going on for two years,” one source alleged, providing evidence of payments made to Mr. Alonsi.
Fear of Reprisal Silences Staff
The alleged misconduct has created a climate of fear among GMA employees, with many afraid to speak out due to potential retaliation. Instead, staff have resorted to anonymously leaking details of the alleged corruption to the media.
Mr. Alonsi is also accused of leveraging his connections with powerful figures, including Gabby Otchere-Darko, to shield himself from accountability despite audit reports highlighting financial mismanagement.
Staff Pin Hopes on Mahama
With the incoming NDC administration, GMA staff are optimistic that Mr. Alonsi will face prosecution for causing financial loss to the state and violating public financial management laws.
“We are begging President Mahama in the name of God to prosecute Alonsi for supervising corruption at the Ghana Maritime Authority. That man deserves jail, and jail he must be,” one agitated staff member declared.
The staff’s call for justice reflects a broader desire for accountability and transparency in the management of public resources. As the Mahama administration prepares to take office, all eyes will be on whether these allegations lead to significant legal action.
Source: with files from News Flash Africa