Maritime Authority boss being investigated over conflict of interest

Mr. Kwame Owusu[/caption] The board of Ghana Maritime Authority has been directed to investigate its Director General Mr. Kwame Owusu over “a number of allegations” leveled against him. The embattled Director General has been accused of approving payments to LUXE Hotels for services rendered to the Authority, which many have cited him for conflict of interest. Apparently Mr. Owusu is the Group Chairman of LUXE Hotels. For instance, he is alleged to have approved the payment of ten thousand six hundred and fifty-two Ghana cedis, five pesewas (GH₵10,652.05) to the hotel for providing lunch for 8 persons as lunch. Read: Maritime Authority blows over GH₵10,000 on lunch for 8; conflict of interest looms But that allegation has been denied by the Authority. READ MORE Co-Chairman of the Citizen’s Movement against Corruption (CMaC), Edem Senanu had advocated for investigation into the allegations. The Transport Minister appears to have accepted the challenge and instructed the board of the Ghana Maritime Authority to investigate the Director General after his “attention has been drawn” to the allegations. “As the sector Minister with oversight responsibility over the Ghana Maritime Authority, I wish to indicate that I have directed the Board of the Authority to investigate the allegations and report to me for necessary action,” Transport Minister Kawku Ofori Asiamah has stated. Meanwhile, Mr. Kwame Owusu has admitted to TV3’s Komla Klutse that he owns the LUXE Hotels. However, he said, the decision to contract the hotel for the catering services was taken and approved by the board of the Authority. The Ghana Maritime Authority Board is chaired by Robert Kingsford Kutin. It is not clear if the sector minister will ask Kwame Owusu who is a member of the board to recuse himself for the investigation to go on. By Isaac Essel | 3news.com | Ghana]]>