Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has ordered the immediate interdiction of a former director at the Ministry of Defence over his involvement in a vehicle supply contract linked to unaccounted state assets valued at GH¢4.8 million.
The directive, issued on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, targets Mr Frank Oliver Kpodo, who served as Director of Procurement and Supply Chain Management at the ministry for over seven years until May 2025. He has since been transferred to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Mrs Abena Osei-Asare, Member of Parliament for Atiwa East and chair of the committee, instructed the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to take immediate action, stating that Mr Kpodo’s conduct fell short of public service standards.
Contract extensions under scrutiny
The case centres on a contract between the Ministry of Defence and Global Supply Network for the supply of Suzuki Grand Vitara vehicles intended for border surveillance during the December 2024 general election.
A special audit report submitted to Parliament flagged the payment claim after a Stores Receipt Advice dated October 12, 2024, indicated the vehicles had been delivered. However, auditors found no evidence of the vehicles during their inspection.
Mr Kpodo disputed the date, telling the committee the document was actually dated December 10, 2024 — five days after an inspection team had examined and certified the vehicles on December 5, 2024. Auditors maintained the vehicles were not present during their verification.
When pressed by the committee chair to confirm whether the vehicles remained in the ministry’s custody, Mr Kpodo failed to provide a direct answer.
“Someone who cannot say yes or no is lying. You are under oath, remember,” Mrs Osei-Asare said.
Verbal instructions, missing documentation
Mr Kpodo later explained that following delivery, the supplier requested the return of the vehicles in January 2025 due to delayed payments. He said he advised management to extend the contract and allow the supplier to retain the vehicles until funds were released.
He told the committee this advice was given verbally to his supervisor, the Administrative Director Mr Elawiti, and the Director of Finance, with no written documentation.
The contract was first extended to May 2025 and later to August 2025 as payment delays persisted. Mr Kpodo confirmed that by August 2025 — three months after he had left his post — the vehicles had still not been returned to the ministry.
The committee noted that while the original contract was duly executed, the extensions were carried out without formal approval from the Chief Director or the Minister of Defence.
Referral for prosecution
Deputy Minister of Defence Mr Ernest Brogya Genfi, present at the hearing, indicated the matter would be referred to the Attorney-General for possible prosecution.
The committee directed the store manager who signed the Stores Receipt Advice, members of the inspection team that certified the vehicles, and representatives of Global Supply Network to appear for further investigations.
Mrs Osei-Asare also questioned Mr Kpodo about his relationship with the supplier, noting the company had previously supplied batteries to the ministry. Mr Kpodo denied any personal links with the firm.
The committee observed that the vehicles, reportedly procured under emergency arrangements ahead of the 2024 general election, were never deployed for their intended purpose.
Mr Genfi told the committee that key documents, including the purchase agreement and unit pricing, had not been presented but would be submitted before the end of the day.
Mr Kpodo also said he could not recall the unit cost of each vehicle, despite prior notice of the issues under review.
