SSNIT interdicts Head of IT over suspected ‘fake’ degree as $72 million system fail scandal heats up
Preliminary investigations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), has revealed that the General Manager of Management Information Systems (MIS) at the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Caleb Afaglo, who supervised the investment of nearly $72 million in a malfunctioning computerised system has questionable qualifications.
Consequently, SSNIT has interdicted Caleb Afaglo, the GM of MIS following a request by EOCO.
A source at EOCO has hinted that the preliminary investigations point to suggestions that Afaglo does not have a doctorate degree as he claimed, neither does he have a masters’ degree nor a first degree as stated in his curriculum vitae (CV) which earned him the top job at SSNIT.
SSNIT invested some $72 million on the malfunctioning computerised system that is yet to deliver its intended result.
The failure of the operational business suite (OBS) to function effectively has raised questions on whether the Trust conducted a value for money assessment on the project prior to its procurement and deployment last year.
SSNIT’s operational business suite (OBS) project was meant to provide customers with convenience in service delivery but aspects of the multimillion dollar project failed to achieve the intended results, following their inability to function effectively.
A deputy Director General of the Trust in-charge of Administration and Finance, Mr Michael Addotey Addo, disclosed some details of the dilemma SSNIT was facing with the OBS last Tuesday on the sidelines of a press conference.
The malfunctioning OBS adds to a list of ICT projects that SSNIT deployed in recent years to help computerise its operations.
The projects include the district operating system (DOS), branch operating system (BOS), enhanced branch operating system (E-BOS) and the integrated pension administrative system (IPAS).
The procurement and subsequent deployment of the project could now become one of the subjects that international audit firm, PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PwC), will be looking into when the firm begins a review of SSNIT’s operations in recent years.
Already, it has been explained that five management staff of the Trust are under investigations by EOCO.
Another 15 employees are assisting in the investigation.
Source: Graphic