Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Nyarko Ampem has revealed that Rans Logistics has refunded GHC 19.1 million to the state following the Auditor‑General’s report he presented to Parliament on 10 March.

Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee, he said the audit had identified missing grains and overpayments, giving the refund as an example of the audit’s importance to the nation.

He noted that, Rans Logistics, which was reported to have been paid for the transportation of grains, returned the money exactly one week after the presentation.

"I just want to give one example to show the importance of the audit to us as a nation, on the 10th of March I came to parliament to present the findings of the audit and the subsequent referral to this committee and exactly a week after on the 17th of March, one of the companies that were identified to be associated with some of the infractions has responded.

"Rans Logistics was the company that was stated to have been paid for the transportation of grains. Exactly a week after the presentation the company has gone ahead to refund GHC 19.1 to the state," he stated.

Mr Ampem added that the audit revealed further discrepancies beyond the GHC 19.1 million refund. He said the company had been overpaid in rice transportation for more than 7,000 tonnes and that the State expects to recover the equivalent quantity.

"It was also stated that the company was paid with rice in excess of 7,000 tonnes, so we are expecting the value of 7,000 metrics tonnes of rice, we are expecting that as well," he uttered.

He commended Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson for commissioning the audit to ensure public funds were appropriately disbursed.

Mr Ampem said the audit had prompted the review of transactions that had previously been rejected or were pending, and that by scrutinising those decisions the country would ultimately identify areas in need of improvement.