A Much Wenlock man claims he was sacked from his £50,000 a year overseas aid post in Ghana after whistleblowing in the Department of International Development.
Howard Horsley says he was in charge of the largest educational aid overseas project ever financed by the British Government between 1999 and 2000 when he raised concerns over the department’s financial systems. He claims to have been dismissed without a full explanation and refused the chance to defend himself after he raised concerns that the system was potentially open to corruption.
Mr Horsley says that not only was he dismissed from his role, but he has been unable get a suitable job ever since as the Department of International Development has refused to give him a reference.
This week a petition from Mr Horsley was presented on his behalf to the House of Commons by local MP Philip Dunne in a bid to secure an investigation into the claims. MP Austin Mitchell also supports the petition.
Mr Horsley states in his petition that he was falsely accused of unsatisfactory performance, and that he was suddenly dismissed “without due process” and then denied all opportunity to challenge his accusers.
Mr Horsley says that when he protested against the extraordinary circumstances of his employment and dismissal, stating his determination, if necessary, to take the matter to Select Committees of the House of Commons, he was threatened with prosecution under the Official Secrets Act.
The petition requests that the House of Commons conducts a Parliamentary investigation to examine the case in full and to consider the significance of Mr Horsley¹s concerns about perceived weaknesses in financial procedures and the alleged potential for corruption within the system of overseas aid.
Mr Dunne told the Journal he had been working on Mr Horsley’s behalf to try to get a hearing within the Department of International Development.
“Presenting the petition is an attempt to embarrass the Government into addressing this issue for once and for all”, said Mr Dunne.