In June 2022, the Ombudsman Commission received a complaint from a Managing Director of a Construction Company.
According to the Managing Director, his construction company was engaged by an engineering division within a certain Government Agency in 2016 to undertake urgent repair and maintenance works for that particular Government Agency’s project. The scope of the repair and maintenance work was for a two-phase project valued at K100,000.00, with a K25,000.00 part payment made at that time by the Government Agency concerned.
Since 2016, the Managing Director has followed up for the outstanding K75,000.00 with the concerned Government Agency however to no avail.
The Commission commenced its administrative investigations under the Organic Law on the Ombudsman Commission.
On 1 December 2022, the Commission was advised that the Managing Director’s claim of K75 000.00 was referred to relevant Government Departments responsible for finances to settle as State Arrears Fund.
The Commission established that the Managing Director was a genuine service provider who was delayed from receiving his outstanding payment since 2016 and as a result, had affected his business and health.
Although the matter was referred to the Arrears Vetting Committee of the relevant Department to settle, the Commission also enquired with the concerned Government Agency to establish reasons why the payment had been outstanding for almost 7 years.
The concerned Government Agency however did not provide reasons for causing undue delay in settling the Managing Director’s outstanding payment.
In late 2023, the Managing Director notified the Commission that he had received an outstanding payment of K68,181. 82 (after tax) from the Government Agency responsible.
The Managing Director thanked the Commission for its assistance in investigating his complaint and ensuring that responsible Government Bodies such as in his matter, perform their duties accordingly.