• Oniyangi Shrugs Off Claims, Says It’s False, Baseless Handwork of Disappointed Detractors
• Accuses Groups That Could Not Secure Agency’s Patronage for Copying & Pasting Sahara Reporters’ ‘Malicious Allegations’
By Akpereshi Peter Akpereshi
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has refuted the allegations of corruption against the Executive Secretary, Mr Sunday Echono, by some quarters of the society, describing it as an attempt to distract the Management’s non-compromising position towards corruption.
In a press release signed by the Acting Director, Public Affairs of the Agency, Abdulmumin Oniyangi and made available to Education Monitor, said, in recent times TETFund, apart from witnessing a surge of fraudulent activities of individuals and groups to defraud right thinking members of the public in the name of the Fund, it has also come under attack at different points by these undesirable element.
The statement said those elements are helbend on dragging the agency’s reputation in the mud so as to “disrupt the determination of the management not to succumb to frivolous requests which are grossly in violation of the Agency’s mandate”.
The statement stated that Some of the antics employed which include Allegation of Contract Fraud & Procurement Racketeering, was one of the accusations levelled against the ES, barely four months in office, which had long been trashed out.
“Suffice to say that the allegations were not only proved to be lacking in merit, but discovered to have been sponsored by self-seeking individuals/groups who felt aggrieved at the sweeping reforms introduced to eliminate corruption and promote accountability at the Fund”
“Despite addressing Sahara Reporters’ unfounded publication, certain individuals/groups who have sought all forms of unholy sponsorship, support and patronage from the Fund, but were denied, have continued to come up under different guises, alleging corruption at the Fund, “copying and pasting” same spurious information contained in Sahara Reporters’ publication”.
The agency which lamented the prevalent cases of forgery of Special Intervention Approval Letters
presented to Heads of Beneficiary Institutions by fraudulent individuals who claim to represent the interest of the Fund, cautioned Heads of institutions not to fall victims to such criminal tendencies.
TETFund also warned the general public to be cautious of unscrupulous Social media scammers providing juicy opportunities at TETFund to defraud members of the public, as the ES is not on such platforms.
The statement maintained that TETFund has metamorphosed to an international brand with two countries understudying it’s activities, describing the activities of such fraudsters as disservice to the fund and the nation at large.
“It is important to state that TETFund has been established as an international brand with two countries currently understudying its system and processes. Ghana has since adopted the same model with the establishment of Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
“The Fund has signed 11 international partnerships agreements and appointed into global knowledge-based institutions spanning Research, Innovation and funding models.
“Considering the giant strides and positive contributions of the Fund towards national development, therefore, it is a great disservice to the country for faceless, self-serving and malevolent interlopers to attempt to discredit the Agency through false, baseless and unfounded allegations”, the statement read.
While reiterating it’s commitment towards accountability, openness and transparency, Tetfund assured it’s esteem stakeholders of it’s stefastness in the discharge of it’s duties.
calling on security agencies to intensify their efforts in curbing this ugly trend by tracking down these criminal elements and bringing them to justice.
“TETFund shall remain open and transparent in all its operations and will be willing at all times to provide information requested by genuine stakeholders through appropriate channels.
“We use this medium to assure our esteemed stakeholders and the general public that we shall remain focused; more so that we are encouraged by the positive feedbacks from our stakeholders.
“There will be no let-off in our efforts to constantly improve efficiency and sustain the Fund’s reputation as a role model intervention agency”, the statement concluded.
Recall that the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Mr. Echono, recently came under heavy accusation of corruption and mismanagement of the Fund by a group of lawyers under the auspices of Lawyers United Against Corruption (LUAC), giving the ES five days ultimatum to resign from office.