The Chief Executive Officer of the Zongo Development Fund (ZoDF), Alhaji Halidu Haruna, has made startling claims of alleged misconduct involving the Fund’s former Chief Executive Officer, Obrempong Dr. Arafat Sulemana Abdulai, including backdated correspondence, alleged tampering with official records, and an incident that led to a national security sweep of his vehicle.
In an interview with Sena Numbo on the Gold Morning Conversation on Radio Gold 90.5, Alhaji Halidu Haruna said the concerns began shortly after he assumed office on September 15, following his appointment earlier that month.
He disclosed that he detected what he described as secretive administrative actions taken without his knowledge, stating that about 19 letters were dispatched to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department “on his blind side.”
According to him, preliminary checks showed the letters were issued on the instruction of the former CEO, signed by him and backdated, with the Executive Secretary dispatching them.
“When I detected, I realised that I must institute an investigation to unravel that. These letters were dispatched on the instruction of the former CEO. He signed those letters and backdated it,” he stated.
He said the situation compelled him to direct the Fund’s Internal Audit Unit to investigate. But during the process, he noticed more irregularities, including alleged interference with official materials such as the attendance book.
“I decided to ask the internal audit to investigate. When the internal auditor was going through the process, some documents were being tampered, our attendance book, etc.,” he said.
Alhaji Halidu Haruna explained that, in response, he issued a suspension directive to the Executive Secretary, instructing her not to touch official matters until the audit was completed.
He further alleged that the suspension decision triggered tension, claiming the former CEO’s father confronted him at a public event. He said the Board Chairman managed the situation quietly to avoid public drama.
But he noted that matters escalated later after the event when his vehicle was stopped in what he described as an embarrassing episode, prompting him to call in security officials to check the car.
“It was after that incident that I invited some national security officials who came and swept the vehicle and detected the tracker,” he disclosed.
He said the tracker was removed, after which he submitted a formal petition to the Inspector-General of Police, which he said was directed to the BNI for investigation.
Alhaji Halidu Haruna added that during the investigations the former CEO allegedly left the country.
