Kenneth Hadebe
Although the five-day meeting of the eleven Permanent Committees of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) which witnessed lack of quorum ended on Friday 24 November, our investigation has revealed financial recklessness and flagrant disregard of the African Union (AU) Financial Rules and Regulations in the expenditure of funds.
It would be recalled that the committee meetings were held in three countries namely South Africa, Ethiopia and Burundi and was marred by low turnout of members of the Parliament. But the financial scandal was reported at the Addis Ababa centre which is the home of Dr. Ashebir Gayo.
Our investigation has revealed that only four (4) staff recruited for the meetings in Addis Ababa had signed contracts. Nineteen (19) of the supposed support staff did not even show up for work but were paid as ordered by the Second Vice President, Dr. Ashebir Gayo.
Resource persons who were supposed to be paid daily honorarium of $300, ended up being paid fifteen thousand, two hundred US dollars (15200 USD). The letter addressed to the Team Leader of the Resource Persons and signed by the Acting Clerk, Mr. Gali Massa Harou stated that “Following your interaction with the Acting President, Dr. Ashebir W. Gayo, I have the honour to inform you that the Pan-African Parliament is organizing joint meetings of its permanent committees which will be held from 20 to 24 November 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with simultaneous virtual participation in Bujumbura, Burundi and Midrand, South Africa.“
“To that effect, I have the pleasure of inviting you to attend and facilitate the various sessions during the joint meetings. The Concept Note and the draft program of the joint meetings are attached for your appreciation and preparation”.
“The Pan-African Parliament will pay you and your team members, the full amount 15200 UD dollars, which shall cover the cost of your preparation and participation , and remuneration of your facilitation as resource persons”.
The implication of the above letter is that an invitation as resource Team Leader was extended without specifying the number as well as members of the Team and on the basis of interaction with Dr. Gayo. It also implies that there was no procurement process before the invitation was extended and there was no breakdown as to how the total amount of 15200 USD was arrived at.
Pundits are wondering how Dr. Gayo have instructed that 19 support staff who did not even go to work for committees be paid? This is the height of financial recklessness and the AU must act to save the Union from further reckless authorizations by Dr. Gayo.
