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Tag: PAC

  • PLAYBACK: PAC probes audited accounts of govt agencies

    PLAYBACK: PAC probes audited accounts of govt agencies

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament began hearings weeks ago to interrogate heads of state institutions cited for financial irregularities in the 2024 Auditor-General’s (A-G) Report. The interrogations forms part of efforts to promote accountability and transparency in the management of public funds. 

    The committee is probing the audited financial statements of various government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

    Yesterday, Monday, November 3, the Ministry of Education and the National Service Scheme appeared before the committee and other ministries.

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Ghana was established under Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and formally constituted as part of Parliament’s Standing Committees. It has existed since the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic, which began in January 1993.

    Its mandate is to review reports presented by the Auditor-General on the public accounts of Ghana, summon ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), as well as state-owned enterprises (SOEs), to explain financial infractions and irregularities, and in some cases, recommend sanctions, recoveries, or referrals for prosecution.

    However, since its establishment, PAC has reportedly had no documented record of ensuring prosecution or imprisonment of culprits, though its recommendations can trigger EOCO investigations or action by the Attorney-General.

    Watch the livestream below:

    Over the years, the Committee has engaged several public institutions and their heads over reported financial irregularities, but little to no documentation of penalties has been recorded to serve as a deterrent. It will be recalled that in 2017, PAC recommended the prosecution of officials at the National Sports Authority for misappropriating funds, but no confirmed convictions followed.

    Similarly, in 2021, the Committee traced non-existent staff under GETFund and MASLOC, yet no jail terms were recorded. In 2023, PAC recovered GH₵12.9 million, but this was through repayments rather than criminal penalties.

    Meanwhile, more than GH¢12.9 billion in misappropriated public funds has been retrieved following collaboration between the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Auditor-General’s Department.Addressing the media on Wednesday, October 1, Chairperson of PAC, Abena Osei-Asare, attributed the remarkable recovery to the collective efforts of the Auditor-General’s Department.

    “One thing I am clear about is that what we are doing is yielding positive results. We have a report we will look at. Per the work of the Public Accounts Committee, and with the support of the Auditor-General, we have been able to retrieve GH¢12.9 billion. There is a whole report on that which we will be sharing with the public at the right time,” she said.

    According to her, the Committee will make the report’s details public at the appropriate time. The Committee is scheduled to resume its sittings on Monday, October 27. Various ministries, departments, and agencies have been interrogated by PAC in recent weeks to address infractions highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report.

    On Monday, September 29, the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) Director of Administration, Dr. Emmanuel Sena Kwasi Donkor, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee following a recent claim by the Auditor-General’s (A-G) Report revealing financial irregularities at the hospital.

    The report suggests that the hospital paid salaries amounting to GHS 1,449,000 to a deceased staff member for a period of 26 months. Dr. Emmanuel Sena Kwasi Donkor affirmed the report, adding that the hospital has so far recovered GHS 303,558.68 of the total amount.

    He explained that the banks previously handling the transactions had, through a letter, indicated that they had ceased processing them.

    “We were able to recover some amounts. Before we got here, we had received letters from some banks stating that they had stopped transferring the funds to the government chest,” Dr. Donkor told the Committee.

    He further urged Parliament to intervene and help the hospital recover the remaining funds.

    “Maybe at the end of this session, we will make a prayer to this House for the House to make an order directing those banks to transfer,” he said.Dr. Donkor revealed that his outfit has submitted the names of the individuals implicated in the act to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for recovery.

    “EOCO has written back requesting the files of the people involved, and we have submitted them,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Ranking Member Samuel Atta-Mills raised serious concerns regarding the issue. “Habib Napare – date of separation was 2022. This guy had died. Didn’t you go to the funeral? And you validated this dead person for 26 months? And now you are coming to tell Parliament to do what?” Atta-Mills asked sharply.

    Just a few days ago, a tense moment erupted during a Public Accounts Committee sitting when Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare sharply confronted the DVLA boss over privacy concerns tied to the authority’s proposed digital number plate system.

    The exchange followed Mr. Kotey’s explanation that the new plates would contain Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips to enhance security and make it difficult for outsiders to tamper with or duplicate.

    Mrs. Osei-Asare, however, raised concerns about whether the new plates would display vehicle owners’ surnames, warning that such information could expose personal data.

    In response, Mr. Kotey said the DVLA would comply with Ghana’s Data Protection Law, noting that the system would only digitalize existing information without altering its basic format. When pressed for a clear answer on whether names would appear, he replied, “It depends on what the law says; we’ll go by it.”

    That response immediately drew a sharp reaction from the PAC Chair, who retorted, “You don’t tell me it depends on what the law says. You are doing it, so you should be able to tell us what the law says. I’m asking a specific question: is it going to have the user’s surname on the number plate?”

    Mr. Kotey later clarified that names do not appear on standard number plates, explaining that only personalized plates bear such identifiers. The Chair, however, maintained that the Committee’s inquiries were in the public interest and aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the rollout of the new digital number plate system.

  • Playback: PAC probes audited accounts of govt agencies

    Playback: PAC probes audited accounts of govt agencies

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has resumed hearings as part of efforts to promote accountability and transparency in the management of public funds. The committee is probing the audited financial statements of various government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).


    Today, Monday, November 3, the Ministry of Education and the National Service Scheme appeared before the committee, with other ministries following suit.


    The committee began hearings weeks ago in Parliament to interrogate heads of state institutions cited for financial irregularities in the 2024 Auditor-General’s (A-G) Report.


    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Ghana was established under Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and formally constituted as part of Parliament’s Standing Committees. It has existed since the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic, which began in January 1993.


    Its mandate is to review reports presented by the Auditor-General on the public accounts of Ghana, summon ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), as well as state-owned enterprises (SOEs), to explain financial infractions and irregularities, and in some cases, recommend sanctions, recoveries, or referrals for prosecution.


    However, since its establishment, PAC has reportedly had no documented record of ensuring prosecution or imprisonment of culprits, though its recommendations can trigger EOCO investigations or action by the Attorney-General.


    Over the years, the Committee has engaged several public institutions and their heads over reported financial irregularities, but little to no documentation of penalties has been recorded to serve as a deterrent. It will be recalled that in 2017, PAC recommended the prosecution of officials at the National Sports Authority for misappropriating funds, but no confirmed convictions followed.


    Similarly, in 2021, the Committee traced non-existent staff under GETFund and MASLOC, yet no jail terms were recorded. In 2023, PAC recovered GH₵12.9 million, but this was through repayments rather than criminal penalties.


    Meanwhile, more than GH¢12.9 billion in misappropriated public funds has been retrieved following collaboration between the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Auditor-General’s Department.
    Addressing the media on Wednesday, October 1, Chairperson of PAC, Abena Osei-Asare, attributed the remarkable recovery to the collective efforts of the Auditor-General’s Department.


    “One thing I am clear about is that what we are doing is yielding positive results. We have a report we will look at. Per the work of the Public Accounts Committee, and with the support of the Auditor-General, we have been able to retrieve GH¢12.9 billion. There is a whole report on that which we will be sharing with the public at the right time,” she said.


    According to her, the Committee will make the report’s details public at the appropriate time. The Committee is scheduled to resume its sittings on Monday, October 27. Various ministries, departments, and agencies have been interrogated by PAC in recent weeks to address infractions highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report.


    On Monday, September 29, the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) Director of Administration, Dr. Emmanuel Sena Kwasi Donkor, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee following a recent claim by the Auditor-General’s (A-G) Report revealing financial irregularities at the hospital.


    The report suggests that the hospital paid salaries amounting to GHS 1,449,000 to a deceased staff member for a period of 26 months. Dr. Emmanuel Sena Kwasi Donkor affirmed the report, adding that the hospital has so far recovered GHS 303,558.68 of the total amount.


    He explained that the banks previously handling the transactions had, through a letter, indicated that they had ceased processing them.


    “We were able to recover some amounts. Before we got here, we had received letters from some banks stating that they had stopped transferring the funds to the government chest,” Dr. Donkor told the Committee.


    He further urged Parliament to intervene and help the hospital recover the remaining funds.


    “Maybe at the end of this session, we will make a prayer to this House for the House to make an order directing those banks to transfer,” he said.
    Dr. Donkor revealed that his outfit has submitted the names of the individuals implicated in the act to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for recovery.


    “EOCO has written back requesting the files of the people involved, and we have submitted them,” he added.


    Meanwhile, Ranking Member Samuel Atta-Mills raised serious concerns regarding the issue. “Habib Napare – date of separation was 2022. This guy had died. Didn’t you go to the funeral? And you validated this dead person for 26 months? And now you are coming to tell Parliament to do what?” Atta-Mills asked sharply.

    Just a few days ago, a tense moment erupted during a Public Accounts Committee sitting when Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare sharply confronted the DVLA boss over privacy concerns tied to the authority’s proposed digital number plate system.


    The exchange followed Mr. Kotey’s explanation that the new plates would contain Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips to enhance security and make it difficult for outsiders to tamper with or duplicate.

    Mrs. Osei-Asare, however, raised concerns about whether the new plates would display vehicle owners’ surnames, warning that such information could expose personal data.


    In response, Mr. Kotey said the DVLA would comply with Ghana’s Data Protection Law, noting that the system would only digitalize existing information without altering its basic format. When pressed for a clear answer on whether names would appear, he replied, “It depends on what the law says; we’ll go by it.”


    That response immediately drew a sharp reaction from the PAC Chair, who retorted, “You don’t tell me it depends on what the law says. You are doing it, so you should be able to tell us what the law says. I’m asking a specific question: is it going to have the user’s surname on the number plate?”


    Mr. Kotey later clarified that names do not appear on standard number plates, explaining that only personalized plates bear such identifiers. The Chair, however, maintained that the Committee’s inquiries were in the public interest and aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the rollout of the new digital number plate system.

  • PAC charges EPA, Environment Ministry to crack down on increasing siting of fuel and gas stations in residential areas

    PAC charges EPA, Environment Ministry to crack down on increasing siting of fuel and gas stations in residential areas

    The growing establishment of fuel and gas stations in residential areas has sparked concerns, particularly from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.

    Consequently, PAC has charged the authorities in charge, the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to take and enforce stringent measures against individuals and companies that establish petrol and gas stations within densely populated residential areas.

    Speaking during a committee sitting, the Acting Chair of PAC, Samuel Atta Mills, highlighted the dangers associated with the act siting the devastation and risk it poses to both lives and property.

    He emphasised the need for the EPA to step up enforcement to safeguard lives and property.

    “The dangers in siting petrol and gas stations within residential communities are real and deadly in times of emergencies. Such actions must not be entertained,” Mr Atta Mills cautioned.

    He further urged the EPA to review its licensing procedures to prevent operators from exploiting loopholes in the system, noting that some individuals were using falsified or questionable documents allegedly issued by the agency.

    Committee Member and MP for Atwima Nwabiagya North, Frank Yeboah, also called on state institutions to strengthen oversight and address recurring regulatory breaches among both public and private entities.

    “State agencies must work harder to stop the ritual of infractions we continue to see. We cannot afford to compromise public safety,” he said.

    Ghana has faced longstanding challenges with the illegal siting of fuel and gas stations, especially in residential and environmentally sensitive areas, due to weak enforcement, political influence, and outdated regulations.

    One of the officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has urged the public to serve as watchdogs by promptly reporting individuals or companies constructing fuel stations in unauthorised locations.

    The Chairperson of PAC, Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, questioned how the EPA continued to grant permits to firms and individuals to build fuel stations in restricted areas despite knowing the risks involved.

    In response, the EPA official admitted that, in recent years, there had been an upsurge in the issuance of such permits, often due to undue political influence. He revealed that some officials were pressured by powerful individuals or politicians to approve licenses that contravene environmental and safety regulations.

    The official, therefore, cautioned the public and those involved in such illegal acts to be mindful of the grave dangers these practices pose to lives and property.

    About PAC

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Ghana was established under Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and formally constituted as part of Parliament’s Standing Committees. It has existed since the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic, which began in January 1993.

    Its mandate is to review reports presented by the Auditor-General on public accounts of Ghana, to summon ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to explain financial infractions and irregularities, and sometimes suggest sanctions, recoveries, and referrals for prosecution.

    However, since its establishment, PAC has reportedly had no documented record of ensuring the prosecution, and in other cases, the imprisonment of culprits, though its recommendations can trigger EOCO investigations or Attorney-General action.

    Over the years, the Committee has engaged several public institutions and heads of these institutions over reported financial irregularities, but little to no penalties have been documented, particularly to serve as a deterrent. It will be recalled that in 2017, PAC recommended the prosecution of officials at the National Sports Authority for misappropriating funds, but no confirmed convictions followed.

    In a separate incident in 2021, the committee traced non-existent staff under GETFund and MASLOC, yet again, no jail terms were recorded.

    In 2023, PAC recovered GH₵12.9 million, but this was through repayments, not criminal penalties.

    Meanwhile, more than GH¢12.9 billion in misappropriated public funds has been retrieved following a collaboration between PAC and the Auditor-General’s Department.

    Addressing the media on Wednesday, October 1, Chairperson of PAC, Abena Osei-Asare, attributed the development to the collective efforts between the Auditor-General’s Department and PAC.

    “One thing I am clear about is that what we are doing is yielding positive results. We have a report we will look at. Per the work of the Public Accounts Committee, and with the support of the Auditor-General, we have been able to retrieve GH¢12.9 billion. There is a whole report on that which we will be sharing with the public at the right time,” she said.

    According to her, the Committee will make the report’s details public at the appropriate time. The Committee is scheduled to resume its sittings on Monday, October 27. Various ministries, departments, and agencies have been interrogated by PAC in recent weeks to address infractions highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report.

    Recently, the Director of Administration at Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Dr Emmanuel Sena Kwasi Donkor, appeared before PAC after the AG’s report suggested that the hospital paid salaries amounting to GHS 1,449,000 to a deceased staff member over a period of 26 months.

    Dr Donkor affirmed the report, adding that the hospital has so far recovered GHS303,558.68 of the total amount. He explained that the banks previously handling the transactions had indicated through letters that they had ceased processing them.

    “We were able to recover some amounts. Before we got here, we had received letters from some banks stating that they had stopped transferring the funds to the government chest,” Dr Donkor told the Committee.

    He further urged Parliament to intervene and help the hospital recover the remaining funds. “Maybe at the end of this session, we will make a prayer to this House for the House to make an order directing those banks to transfer,” he said.

    Dr Donkor revealed that his outfit has submitted the names of the individuals implicated in the act to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for recovery. “EOCO has written back requesting the files of the people involved, and we have submitted them,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Ranking Member Samuel Atta-Mills raised serious concerns regarding the issue. “Habib Napare – date of separation was 2022. This guy had died. Didn’t you go to the funeral? And you validated this dead person for 26 months? And now you are coming to tell Parliament to do what?” Atta-Mills asked sharply.

    In the meantime, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has released a fifty-page report covering investigations and prosecutions carried out between January 1 and July 31 this year.

  • PLAYBACK: PAC probes audited accounts of govt agencies

    PLAYBACK: PAC probes audited accounts of govt agencies

    As part of efforts to promote accountability and transparency in the management of public funds, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has begun probing the audited financial statements of various government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

    The committee began hearings weeks ago in Parliament to interrogate heads of state institutions cited for financial irregularities in the 2024 Auditor-General’s (A-G) Report.

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Ghana was established under Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and formally constituted as part of Parliament’s Standing Committees. It has existed since the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic, which began in January 1993.

    Its mandate is to review reports presented by the Auditor-General on the public accounts of Ghana, summon ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), as well as state-owned enterprises (SOEs), to explain financial infractions and irregularities, and in some cases, recommend sanctions, recoveries, or referrals for prosecution.

    Watch the livestream here:

    However, since its establishment, PAC has reportedly had no documented record of ensuring prosecution or imprisonment of culprits, though its recommendations can trigger EOCO investigations or action by the Attorney-General.

    Over the years, the Committee has engaged several public institutions and their heads over reported financial irregularities, but little to no documentation of penalties has been recorded to serve as a deterrent. It will be recalled that in 2017, PAC recommended the prosecution of officials at the National Sports Authority for misappropriating funds, but no confirmed convictions followed.

    Similarly, in 2021, the Committee traced non-existent staff under GETFund and MASLOC, yet no jail terms were recorded. In 2023, PAC recovered GH₵12.9 million, but this was through repayments rather than criminal penalties.

    Meanwhile, more than GH¢12.9 billion in misappropriated public funds has been retrieved following collaboration between the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Auditor-General’s Department.

    Addressing the media on Wednesday, October 1, Chairperson of PAC, Abena Osei-Asare, attributed the remarkable recovery to the collective efforts of the Auditor-General’s Department.

    “One thing I am clear about is that what we are doing is yielding positive results. We have a report we will look at. Per the work of the Public Accounts Committee, and with the support of the Auditor-General, we have been able to retrieve GH¢12.9 billion. There is a whole report on that which we will be sharing with the public at the right time,” she said.

    According to her, the Committee will make the report’s details public at the appropriate time. The Committee is scheduled to resume its sittings on Monday, October 27. Various ministries, departments, and agencies have been interrogated by PAC in recent weeks to address infractions highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report.

    On Monday, September 29, the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) Director of Administration, Dr. Emmanuel Sena Kwasi Donkor, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee following a recent claim by the Auditor-General’s (A-G) report, revealing financial irregularities at the hospital.

    The report suggests that the hospital paid salaries amounting to GHS 1,449,000 to a deceased staff member for a period of 26 months. Dr. Emmanuel Sena Kwasi Donkor, affirmed the report, adding that the hospital has so far recovered GHS303,558.68 of the total amount.

    He explained that the banks previously handling the transactions had, through a letter, indicated that they have ceased processing them.

    “We were able to recover some amounts. Before we got here, we had received letters from some banks stating that they had stopped transferring the funds to the government chest,” Dr. Donkor told the Committee.

    He further urged Parliament to intervene and help the hospital recover the remaining funds.

    “Maybe at the end of this session, we will make a prayer to this House for the House to make an order directing those banks to transfer,” he said.

    Dr. Donkor revealed that his outfit has submitted the names of the individuals implicated in the act to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO)for recovery.

    “EOCO has written back requesting the files of the people involved, and we have submitted them,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Ranking Member Samuel Atta-Mills raised serious concerns regarding the issue.“Habib Napare – date of separation was 2022. This guy had died. Didn’t you go to the funeral? And you validated this dead person for 26 months? And now you are coming to tell Parliament to do what?” Atta-Mills asked sharply,” he added.

    Just few days ago, a tense moment erupted during a Public Accounts Committee sitting when Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare sharply confronted the DVLA boss over privacy concerns tied to the authority’s proposed digital number plate system.

    The exchange followed Mr. Kotey’s explanation that the new plates would contain Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips to enhance security and make it difficult for outsiders to tamper with or duplicate. Mrs. Osei-Asare, however, raised concerns about whether the new plates would display vehicle owners’ surnames, warning that such information could expose personal data.

    In response, Mr. Kotey said the DVLA would comply with Ghana’s Data Protection Law, noting that the system would only digitalize existing information without altering its basic format. When pressed for a clear answer on whether names would appear, he replied, “It depends on what the law says; we’ll go by it.”

    That response immediately drew a sharp reaction from the PAC Chair, who retorted, “You don’t tell me it depends on what the law says. You are doing it, so you should be able to tell us what the law says. I’m asking a specific question: is it going to have the user’s surname on the number plate?”

    Mr. Kotey later clarified that names do not appear on standard number plates, explaining that only personalized plates bear such identifiers. The Chair, however, maintained that the Committee’s inquiries were in the public interest and aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the rollout of the new digital number plate system.

  • PAC reclaims GHS12.9bn siphoned from state coffers

    PAC reclaims GHS12.9bn siphoned from state coffers

    More than GH¢12.9 billion in misappropriated public funds has been retrieved following a joint collaboration between the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Auditor-General’s (A-G) Department.


    Addressing the media on Wednesday, October 1, Chairperson of PAC, Abena Osei-Asare, attributed the groundbreaking development to the collective efforts between the Auditor-General’s Department.


    “One thing I am clear about is that what we are doing is yielding positive results. We have a report we will look at. Per the work of the Public Accounts Committee, and with the support of the Auditor-General, we have been able to retrieve GH¢12.9 billion. There is a whole report on that which we will be sharing with the public at the right time,” she said.


    According to her, the Committee will make the report’s details public at the appropriate time. The Committee is scheduled to resume its sittings on Monday, October 27. Various ministries, departments, and agencies to address infractions highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report have been interrogated by PAC in recent weeks.


    Recently, the Director of Administration at Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Dr. Emmanuel Sena Kwasi Donkor, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee after the A-G’s report suggested that the hospital paid salaries amounting to GHS 1,449,000 to a deceased staff member for a period of 26 months.

    Dr. Emmanuel Sena Kwasi Donkor affirmed the report, adding that the hospital has so far recovered GHS303,558.68 of the total amount.
    He explained that the banks previously handling the transactions had, through a letter, indicated that they had ceased processing them.


    “We were able to recover some amounts. Before we got here, we had received letters from some banks stating that they had stopped transferring the funds to the government chest,” Dr. Donkor told the Committee.


    He further urged Parliament to intervene and help the hospital recover the remaining funds. “Maybe at the end of this session, we will make a prayer to this House for the House to make an order directing those banks to transfer,” he said.


    Dr. Donkor revealed that his outfit has submitted the names of the individuals implicated in the act to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO)for recovery. “EOCO has written back requesting the files of the people involved, and we have submitted them,” he added.


    Meanwhile, Ranking Member Samuel Atta-Mills has raised serious concerns regarding the issue. “Habib Napare – date of separation was 2022. This guy had died. Didn’t you go to the funeral? And you validated this dead person for 26 months? And now you are coming to tell Parliament to do what?” Atta-Mills asked sharply,” he added.

    In the meantime, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has released a fifty-page report covering investigations and prosecutions carried out between January 1 and July 31 this year.


    The OSP’s Seventh Half-yearly Report is pursuant to Section 3(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959). The document also outlines key developments in the Office’s operations.


    According to the OSP, despite resistance from powerful interests, it stayed focused on executing its mandate during this period. As such, the Office successfully progressed significant corruption-related investigations to the stage of court proceedings, while also initiating new inquiries into suspected acts of corruption.


    “Then again, the Office, as one of three implementing partners of the new National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Strategy and Implementing Plan, is fashioning and moulding anti-corruption structures that would stand the test of time. The task ahead remains formidable. Much more so is our resolve to perform.


    “This reporting period was characterised by intensification of the Office’s prosecutorial mandate. We advanced high-profile investigations to court and initiated bold inquiries into suspected corruption, often in the face of deep-seated resistance from entrenched interests.


    “Notwithstanding these expected challenges, the Office remains resolute and guided by the rule of law, fairness, firmness, evidence-based action, and the interest of the public. We recognise that the fight against corruption cannot be waged and won only through punitive action and incarceration,” parts of the report read.


    The legislative framework of the Office of the Special Prosecutor mandates the Authority to crack down on corruption, recover assets, and confiscate illicit property.


    “Indeed, the legislative set-up of the Office leans heavily on corruption-prevention and asset recovery and disgorgement of tainted property. Consequently, we proceed on sustainable anti-corruption outcomes by pairing enforcement with robust prevention and asset recovery, especially founded on our unique plea bargaining regime.


    In this spirit, the Office scaled up its preventive mandate through active engagement with public institutions, private sector actors, civil society- and secured convictions and asset recovery through impactful plea bargaining.

    “We also reckon that the nation’s anti-corruption legal framework requires re-imagination, modernisation, and retooling to address the immense scale and complexity of modern corruption in the context of our social, economic, and political constructs.


    “On this score, the Office has proposed the inclusion of a new chapter in the Constitution dedicated to the fight against corruption through definitive constitutional expression by the institution of proposed concrete measures to effectively and comprehensively suppress and repress corruption in public life as well as in the private sector chief among which include lifestyle audit non-conviction-based asset recovery, enhanced asset declaration and verification regime, and reverse onus presumption of corruption as the foundation of both anti-corruption criminal proceedings and civil asset recovery proceedings,” parts of the report added.


    The Office is also leading the charge in respect of the passage of a comprehensive Corrupt Practices Act and Conduct of Public Officers Act.


    Currently, sixty-seven(67) cases are being handled by the Office, all of which are undergoing comprehensive review. The corruption cases being investigated by OSP include: Minerals Income Investment Fund, Ghana Airports Company Limited, Ghana Education Service, National Commission on Culture, Ghana Revenue Authority/Tata Consulting Services, National Service Authority, Ministry of Health/Service Ghana Auto Group Limited, and National Cathedral.


    The others are: Tema oil refinery and Tema Energy and Processing Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited, State lands, Stool lands, and other Vested lands, Illegal Mining, National Sports Authority, Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority, Bank of Ghana and Estate of Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, alias Sir John.

  • NITA ordered to present documents on ‘shady’ Smart Infraco Ltd contract

    NITA ordered to present documents on ‘shady’ Smart Infraco Ltd contract

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed Richard Okyere-Fosu, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), to provide a more comprehensive documentation concerning a controversial $16 million service contract with Smart Infraco Limited.

    This directive comes after the committee found Mr. Okyere-Fosu’s responses to the Auditor General’s observations about the contract unsatisfactory.

    During a session chaired by James Klutse Avedzi, the PAC instructed Mr. Okyere-Fosu to provide detailed documentation, including letters, proposals, value-for-money reports, contracts, and invoices related to the Smart Infraco Limited deal.

    Mr. Avedzi emphasized the need for thorough documentation to clarify the deal’s legitimacy.

    “I want a copy of the letter from the Ministry of Communication requesting Smart Infraco Limited to submit a proposal for the provision of this service. I need a copy of that letter from the Ministry of Communication. I also need the proposal submitted by Smart Infraco Limited for the SMART Workplace Project,” he stated.

    Mr. Avedzi further demanded, “You wrote a letter to them, and they responded. They are in terms of a quota. I need a copy of their value-for-money reports on the SMART Workplace Project. I also need copies or requests for quotations or proposals submitted by Smart Infraco to the following service provider contractors. Copies of evaluation and assessment reports of the SIL, then copies of both notification of award and acceptance letter. I also need a list of all MMDAs which have received support under the SMART Workplace Project.”

    A specific date will be set for the Director-General to submit the required documents and responses.

  • LIVESTREAMING: PAC interrogates heads of schools

    LIVESTREAMING: PAC interrogates heads of schools

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is engaging heads of schools over projects being undertaken by contractors in the various schools.

    Today’s sitting is taking place at Ho in the Volta Region.

    Below is the live stream.

  • Engage revenue collectors on commission basis – PAC tells gov’t

    Engage revenue collectors on commission basis – PAC tells gov’t

    The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), James Klutse-Avedzi, has restated the committee’s recommendation that the government should avoid hiring full-time revenue collectors at Municipal and District Assemblies.

    According to the Chairman, government-employed revenue collectors often neglect their duties, knowing they will receive their salaries regardless.

    The committee proposes that all revenue collectors should be contracted on a commission basis, receiving 20% of what they collect. They believe this approach would motivate collectors to work harder and increase revenue collection.

    These views were expressed at the PAC Zonal Public Hearing in Tamale, where the Auditor-General’s Report on the Management and Utilization of District Assemblies Common Fund and Other Statutory Funds for the year ended 31st December 2022, and Pre-University Educational Institutions for the same period, were under consideration.

    During the hearing, officers of the Garu District Assembly cited reasons for low revenue collection, including lack of targets for collectors, ineffective monitoring systems, and the adverse impact of the Bawku conflicts on commercial activities in the district.

    However, officers from the Wa East District Assembly were turned away after failing to attend with their District Chief Executive, citing illness.

    The Committee suspected this as a deliberate attempt to avoid appearing before them, and they instructed the officers to return with their DCE on a later date.

    Districts such as Bawku Municipal, Builsa North, Builsa South, Bolgatanga East, Kassena Nankana, Nabdam, and Tempane were among those that appeared before the Committee.

    Schools mentioned in the Auditor-General’s Reports included Sandema SHTS, Navrongo SHS, Zuarungu SHS, and Daffiama SHS.

  • PAC orders East Gonja Municipal Assembly to pay Kigbatito classroom block contractor GHC92,704 with interest

    PAC orders East Gonja Municipal Assembly to pay Kigbatito classroom block contractor GHC92,704 with interest

    Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, James Klutse-Avedzi, has directed the District Chief Executive of the East Gonja Municipal Assembly, Richard Broni, and his team to promptly settle an outstanding balance of GHC92,704.50 owed to M/S Saliha Enterprise for the construction of a 3-unit classroom block in Kigbatito in 2016.

    This directive came during the final day of the Zone 1 Public Hearing in Tamale, where the Committee reviewed the Auditor-General’s Report on the Public Accounts of Ghana – Technical University and Polytechnics for the period ending 31st December 2022.

    The Auditor-General’s report highlighted that the East Gonja Municipal Assembly awarded a contract to M/S Saliha Enterprise for the construction project at a total cost of GHC133,704.50. Despite the project’s completion in 2016, only GHC41,000.00 has been paid, leaving an outstanding balance of GHC92,704.50.

    To avoid potential legal issues, the Auditor-General recommended that the management settle the debt promptly. Chairman Klutse-Avedzi stressed the urgency of the matter, instructing the DCE and the Accountant of the East Gonja Municipal Assembly to contact the contractor immediately and settle the outstanding balance.

    Additionally, the Committee cautioned Zoomlion Ghana Limited to address complaints promptly, particularly regarding the maintenance of skip trucks and damaged containers under the Sanitation Improvement contract with various District and Municipal Assemblies.

    During the hearing, the Committee also engaged with other assemblies, including Bole, North Gonja, Sawla Tuna Kalba, Gushiegu, Tolon, and Yendi, as well as schools cited in the report, such as Dagbon SHTS, Kpandai SHS, NMTC Kpembe, Yamba Special School, and Zabzugu SHS.

    In his closing remarks, James Klutse-Avedzi expressed gratitude to the Committee members, DCEs, Heads of Institutions, Auditors, and Parliamentary Service staff for their contributions to the success of the Zone 1 Public Hearing, which covered five regions: Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper East, and Upper West.

  • PAC to vet Egyapa Mercer, 4 others today

    PAC to vet Egyapa Mercer, 4 others today

    The Parliament’s Appointments Committee (PAC) is set to commence the vetting of President Akufo-Addo’s newly nominated ministers today, March 5, 2024.

    Scheduled participants include Andrew Egyapa Mercer, nominated for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture; Lydia Seyram Alhassan, designated for the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources; Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, slated for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development; Ophelia Mensah Hayford, appointed for the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation; and Darkoa Newman, selected for the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.

    The vetting will continue until March 12, 2024, and the schedule for appearances is as follows:

    Tuesday, March 5:

    9 am: Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
    10 am: Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources
    11 am: Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development
    12 pm: Ophelia Mensah Hayford, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation
    2 pm: Darkoa Newman, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection
    Thursday, March 7:

    9 am: Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Health
    10 am: Titus Glover, Minister-designate for the Greater Accra Region
    11 am: Fatimatu Abubakar, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Information
    2 pm: Daniel Machator, Minister-designate for the Oti Region
    Friday, March 8:

    9 am: Dr. Benjamin Sekyere Yeboah, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection
    10 am: Sylvester Tetteh, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Information
    11 am: Charles Acheampong, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation
    12 pm: Adelaide Ntim, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Health
    2 pm: Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Deputy Minister-designate for the Health Ministry
    Monday, March 11:

    9 am: Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development
    10 am: John Kobina Sanie, Deputy Minister-designate for the Energy Ministry
    10 am: Collins Adomako Mensah, Deputy Minister-designate at the Energy Ministry
    12 pm: Dr. Prince Hamidu Armah, Deputy Minister-designate for the Works and Housing Ministry

    Tuesday, March 12:

    9 am: Kingsley Nyarko, Deputy Minister-designate for the Education Ministry
    10 am: Festus Awuah Kwofie, Deputy Minister-designate for the Employment and Labour Ministry
    11 am: Akwasi Konadu, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
    12 pm: Musah Abdul Aziz Ayaba, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Development

  • PPA officials approve ‘any’ sole sourcing contract requests over fear of job dismissal – PAC chairman

    PPA officials approve ‘any’ sole sourcing contract requests over fear of job dismissal – PAC chairman

    Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, James Klutse Avedzi, disclosed that officials at the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) feel pressured to approve sole sourcing contract requests, even if they don’t meet the necessary criteria, due to fear of dismissal.

    According to Avedzi, nearly all of these requests from state institutions, about 99.9%, are granted because of the influential figures in government backing such contracts.

    Speaking to EIB Network’s Parliamentary Affairs Correspondent Ibrahim Alhassan, Avedzi highlighted that many of the infractions outlined in the Auditor General’s Reports revolve around procurement, despite the existence of laws governing the process.

    He further explained that PPA officials often feel compelled to approve these irregular requests, fearing job loss if they refuse the powerful individuals behind them.

    “What they do is to write to the Procurement Authority for approval and I can tell you that if you take a 100% of requests to the Public Procurement Authority, about 99.9% are approved.”

    Mr. Avedzi pointed out that despite President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and key members of the NPP expressing strong disapproval of sole sourcing, the practice has become prevalent.

    “It is happening now more than before. The challenge that the workers or those people who are working at the Public Procurement Authority have is that, if there is a pressure from high authority, I want you to approve this request. So you choose between your job security and approval of that.”.

    “The request will not be met because there are conditions under which you can do sole sourcing. Those conditions are not met by that request and if I don’t do it maybe I will be sacked, Maybe the one who put me there is asking me to do it, if I deny him this, what will happen? My job is at stake.

    According to him, the other challenge with the fight against corruption is the poor working conditions of the staff of the PPA. According to Mr. Avedzi the development makes it difficult for the authority to exercise its mandate to ensure a better procurement process.

    The PAC chairman related to a staff member of the PPA whose terms of engagement were varied to her disadvantage.

    “The other one is the condition of service of those working at the regulatory body. There was an issue where somebody was engaged as a lawyer on contract and she was being paid around GhC4,000.00, which is also not enough, but she was managing with that and when her condition of employment was regularised, she’s now been put on government payroll. Approval had been given by the Public Services Commission and the salary came down to about GhC2,000.00, to her disadvantage. So the board of PPA had to decide what to do. They decided to top up her salary by GhC2,000.00 to still maintain the GhC4,000.00.

    The auditors cited that difference and when I looked at it I said, looking at the condition under which this thing happened, I don’t think we should push it too much. So if the condition of service of the people who are working there is so bad, what do you think they will do? They are human beings, and they will be tempted to receive some packages to make them survive, so that they can take care of their family. So these two things are making it to the extent that procurement issues are becoming alarming. So how do we resolve this?”

    Mr. Avedzi called for better conditions of service for the staff of PPA. This, according to him, will help address their susceptibility to corruption.

    “That regulatory body must be well paid so that there will be no temptation to receive anything. It will not completely rule it out but it can cut it down to a large extent. Once I’m paid well and you want to offer me a bribe or something so that I can approve something that I know is wrong, my conscience will tell me that ‘hey look why do you want to do this?’ So let’s pay them well.”

    The lawmaker also called on government officials and leading members of the governing party to refrain from putting pressure on PPA to approve sole sourcing requests which do not meet the requirements of the Act.

    “To those of us who are putting pressure on them to approve something that we know is wrong because we are doing it for our own benefit must be committed to say that ‘I will not do that’ . Once we do that, we solve the problem.


    Mr. Avedzi expressed frustration over the failure to act on the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee regarding breaches identified in the Auditor General’s reports.

    “The third one is that those people who are found liable must be punished and this Public Accounts Committee has cited and referred a number of people. The prominent among them is the sole sourcing which was done by Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company. I referred this to the Attorney General for prosecution but as we sit here no prosecution has started,” Mr. Avedzi stated.

  • Illegitimate GRA Boss will be dealt with – PAC chair vows

    Illegitimate GRA Boss will be dealt with – PAC chair vows


    Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), James Klutse Avedzi, has issued a warning to Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rev. Ammishadai Owusu-Amoah, indicating that he will be personally held accountable for working without the renewal of his contract.

    Rev. Ammishadai attracted public attention by declining to respond to a question posed by Samuel Nartey George, a member of the Public Accounts Committee and MP for Ningo-Prampram, regarding his age.

    Accompanied by Deputy Finance Minister Abena Osei Asare, the GRA chief struggled to provide a straightforward answer.

    Despite efforts by some committee members to dismiss the question, Rev. Ammishadai eventually admitted that his two-year contract, which was awarded to him after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60, had expired without renewal.

    In an interview with EIB Network’s Parliamentary Correspondent Ibrahim Alhassan, Committee Chairman James Klutse Avedzi cautioned that the GRA chief would face consequences if he continued to hold office without a contract.

    The Ketu North MP defended his decision to entertain the public interest question raised by the Ningo-Prampram MP.

    “No, we don’t have it. He hasn’t given us the contract. He told us at the committee that when the issue came up and other members were trying to stop the member who asked the question or arguing the question should not be allowed, I said the question should be answered because the person is a public officer. Once you’re a public officer, there is nothing personal, especially about your age,” he said.

    According to Mr. Avedzi, individuals above retirement age can be engaged but not beyond 5 years and thus the decision to engage the GRA boss is not illegal.

    “The law says if you are above a certain age, you go on retirement, but if your expertise is needed, you can be given a contract. So if I’m over 60 years old and I’m given a contract, I’m covered.

    “I said, Why can’t you tell us your age, Why can’t you tell us that you have a contract? So, go ahead and answer the question. And he said, ‘Oh, I am 62 and so so and so months. I have a contract.’

    “The law says that when you’re 60 years old and you’re given a contract, you can be given a two-year contract that can be renewed for another two years but all put together, it must not be more than five years. That’s what the law says,” he added.

    Mr. Avedzi wondered why the Commissioner General had not been given another contract after the expiration of the earlier one.

    “So if you’re 62 and you have a contract, you’re covered. If you’re 63, you have a contract, and if that contract is renewed, you’re covered. But he told us that the renewal of his contract has not been done, as at the time we were asking him the questions.”

    The former deputy minority leader, however, did not fault the GRA boss for his inability to explain why his contract had not been renewed. According to him, the matter rests with the appointing authority.

    “He could not tell us the reason why he had not been given a contract. He’s not the one to give himself the contract; it’s the government or the minister. If I were the minister and I still wanted him to be there, I would just renew the contract for him.

    “But if I don’t want him to be there, I will not renew it. If he continues to stay there without a contract, then he is breaking the law. He will be personally held liable. After the issue has come up and you have still not been given a renewal contract, are you still there? Then you’re working illegally,” he warned.

  • $12m was invested in Agyapa Royalties deal by govt – MIIF CEO

    $12m was invested in Agyapa Royalties deal by govt – MIIF CEO


    In a recent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting, Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng, CEO of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), shared that the government had utilized $12 million on the halted Agyapa royalties deal.

    The Agyapa deal, intended to generate funds for infrastructure projects through mineral royalties, faced suspension by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2021 due to public outcry.

    This decision followed opposition from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and various civil society organizations.

    Mr Koranteng informed the PAC on Tuesday, February 13, 2023, that the $12 million was spent on processes related to issuing the initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange before the deal was suspended.

    In response to inquiries about due diligence, Koranteng clarified that the Ministry of Finance had enlisted the services of international consultancy firms and experienced financial institutions for expert guidance.

    He emphasized that the Ministry of Finance had acted upon the provided advice, considering it to be sound.

    He further explained that the intended outcome, based on the advice received, was the establishment of a gold royalties company with the streaming of royalties benefiting Ghana.

    Mr Koranteng stated, “My understanding, honorable chair, is that the Ministry of Finance procured the services of international consultancy and companies and financial institutions that have done this in the past, and that the advice provided was what the Ministry of Finance stood on. We started with the Ministry of Finance, and from the documents that we have, it is clear that the correct advice was provided on the set-up of a gold royalties company where the streaming of the royalties would benefit Ghana.”

  • Confusion rocks PAC meeting as NSA boss, accountant struggle to explain why monies were put in different accounts

    Confusion rocks PAC meeting as NSA boss, accountant struggle to explain why monies were put in different accounts

    Drama unfolded at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting on February 5, 2024, as the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Professor Peter Twumasi, and the NSA’s chief accountant faced intense scrutiny during regarding the lodgement of funds received by the institution during the Christmas festivities.

    The interrogation, led by Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, and Committee Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi, exposed discrepancies in the handling of funds totaling GHS250,000 raised from renting out facilities at the Accra Sports Stadium during the Christmas period.

    Sam George disclosed that checks amounting to GHS250,000 were received from various entities for non-sporting activities at the Accra Sports Stadium in 2023. 

    He questioned whether these funds were deposited into the NSA’s central account as required or if they were split between regional accounts.

    The NSA’s chief accountant admitted that part of the funds was lodged in Accra while the remainder was deposited in Kumasi, citing the issuance of invoices as the reason for the split. However, his responses failed to satisfy the committee’s inquiries.

    Chairman Avedzi intervened, expressing dissatisfaction with the explanations provided and characterizing the situation as “a mess.”

    He recommended further investigation and corrective measures to address the apparent irregularities in fund management within the NSA.

    During the hearing, Professor Twumasi attempted to clarify the matter but faced challenges in convincing the committee members regarding the rationale behind the payment allocations.

    In light of the revelations, the committee emphasized the need for accountability and transparency in the management of public funds, particularly within government agencies such as the NSA. The findings from the hearing will be included in the committee’s report, with potential recommendations for remedial action to rectify the identified deficiencies in financial management practices within the NSA.

    As the investigation unfolds, stakeholders await the committee’s report and any subsequent actions aimed at ensuring proper oversight and accountability in the handling of public funds by government institutions.

  • NSA officials ‘grilled’ at PAC meeting over funds lodgement

    NSA officials ‘grilled’ at PAC meeting over funds lodgement

    Drama unfolded at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting on February 5, 2024, as the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Professor Peter Twumasi, and the NSA’s chief accountant faced intense scrutiny during regarding the lodgement of funds received by the institution during the Christmas festivities.

    The interrogation, led by Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, and Committee Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi, exposed discrepancies in the handling of funds totaling GHS250,000 raised from renting out facilities at the Accra Sports Stadium during the Christmas period.

    Sam George disclosed that checks amounting to GHS250,000 were received from various entities for non-sporting activities at the Accra Sports Stadium in 2023. 

    He questioned whether these funds were deposited into the NSA’s central account as required or if they were split between regional accounts.

    The NSA’s chief accountant admitted that part of the funds was lodged in Accra while the remainder was deposited in Kumasi, citing the issuance of invoices as the reason for the split. However, his responses failed to satisfy the committee’s inquiries.

    Chairman Avedzi intervened, expressing dissatisfaction with the explanations provided and characterizing the situation as “a mess.”

    He recommended further investigation and corrective measures to address the apparent irregularities in fund management within the NSA.

    During the hearing, Professor Twumasi attempted to clarify the matter but faced challenges in convincing the committee members regarding the rationale behind the payment allocations.

    In light of the revelations, the committee emphasized the need for accountability and transparency in the management of public funds, particularly within government agencies such as the NSA. The findings from the hearing will be included in the committee’s report, with potential recommendations for remedial action to rectify the identified deficiencies in financial management practices within the NSA.

    As the investigation unfolds, stakeholders await the committee’s report and any subsequent actions aimed at ensuring proper oversight and accountability in the handling of public funds by government institutions.

  • Director-General, why do you behave like this? – PAC Chairman rebukes NSA director

    Director-General, why do you behave like this? – PAC Chairman rebukes NSA director

    Tempers flared during a session of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, February 5, 2024, as Chairman James Klutse Avedzi reprimanded Professor Peter Twumasi, the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), over allegations of undermining the authority of the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif.

    The heated exchange arose from Prof Twumasi’s explanation regarding the directive to transfer the Central Regional Director of the NSA, Alexander Tieku, despite the minister’s instructions to the contrary. The minister had instructed a grass specialist to assist in fixing the pitch at the Cape Coast Stadium following Ghana’s Independence Day celebrations, but Mr Tieku allegedly ignored the directive.

    Frustrated by the interruptions to his flow during the committee hearing, Chairman Avedzi chastised Prof Twumasi, questioning his behavior and likening it to irresponsible parenting. “Director General, I am talking, why? Why do you behave like this? Is that how you are training your children?” Avedzi exclaimed.

    The Minister for Youth and Sports had previously expressed dissatisfaction with Mr Tieku’s insubordination, citing disrespect towards his authority. Despite issuing instructions for Mr Tieku’s transfer to Koforidua, Prof Twumasi signed a letter directing him to remain at Cape Coast, a move deemed as undermining the minister’s authority by Chairman Avedzi.

    “You are not actually respecting the minister at all; you are actually undermining the minister. It is not good. No, Mr Twumasi it is not good,” Avedzi admonished.

    The exchange highlights tensions within the National Sports Authority and underscores the importance of accountability and respect for authority within government agencies. The incident also emphasizes the crucial role of parliamentary oversight in ensuring transparency and accountability in public institutions.

    As the investigation into the matter continues, stakeholders are urged to prioritize cooperation and adherence to established protocols to avoid further friction and maintain effective governance within the sports sector.

  • Northern Regional NSA Director in hot waters for squandering GHC160K

    Northern Regional NSA Director in hot waters for squandering GHC160K

    The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has issued an order for the arrest of the Northern Regional Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA).

    The directive comes in response to the director’s failure to appear before the committee to explain the spending of over GH¢160,000 in contravention of the Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019.

    The funds were not lodged in the designated Consolidated Fund Transit account of the Authority, as per the 2022 Auditor General’s report.

    “We are directing that the regional director and accountant of the region should be picked up immediately by the police.

    “You were invited to appear before Parliament, and you refused, knowing very well that you had squandered over GH¢160,000 and you thought you would go scout free,” Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), James Klutse-Avedzi said.

    Meanwhile, James Klutse-Avedzi has ordered the Kadjebi District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to engage the Ghana Police and arrest the Former Head Teacher of Ahamansu LA Erishad Primary School, Mr. Krampah Patrick Wisdom for receiving GHc 72,759.32 unearned salary.

  • Arrest Northern Regional NSA Director immediately – PAC instructs police over misuse of GHS160K

    Arrest Northern Regional NSA Director immediately – PAC instructs police over misuse of GHS160K

    Parliament of Ghana has authorized the arrest of the Northern Regional Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA) for alleged financial misconduct. The directive comes in response to the director’s failure to deposit more than GHS160,000 in internally generated funds into the designated Consolidated Fund Transit account of the Authority.

    The 2022 Auditor General’s report brought attention to the expenditure of these funds by the Northern Regional Management of the Sports Authority, a violation of the Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019. Despite being summoned to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and explain the irregularities outlined in the report, the Regional Director did not comply.

    Expressing his dissatisfaction, the Committee Chairman has ordered the immediate arrest of both the regional director and the accountant involved. “We are instructing the police to pick up the regional director and accountant of the region without delay. You were invited to testify before Parliament, and you declined, despite being aware that you had misused over GHS160,000, presuming that you would escape consequences,” stated the chairman.

    This development underscores the commitment of the Parliament to uphold financial accountability and transparency within public institutions.

    The arrest order emphasizes the gravity of the alleged financial mismanagement and sends a strong message about the consequences for those failing to comply with established financial regulations.

    The unfolding situation is expected to prompt further investigation and legal proceedings to address the financial irregularities within the National Sports Authority’s Northern Regional office.

  • Farmers battling Bird Flu to receive GHS1.8 from Agric Ministry

    Farmers battling Bird Flu to receive GHS1.8 from Agric Ministry

    Parliament has directed the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to compensate farmers who incurred losses due to the avian influenza or Bird Flu outbreak between 2015 and 2018.

    As per the 2022 Auditor General’s Report, a substantial portion of the earmarked compensation funds, exceeding GH¢1.8 million, remains unutilized in the Ministry’s account.

    While the Ministry argues that the funds are undistributed due to a lack of necessary details from affected farmers, the Public Accounts Committee, led by Chairman James Klutse Avedzi, has mandated the Agriculture Ministry to identify the affected farmers and disburse the funds within the next month.

    During a Public Accounts Committee session, Avedzi instructed, “I am sure you have a list of the farms that are affected and a certificate for destroying the birds as well. All that you need is to have the affected farmers’ bank details to do the transfer and I am sure that you have the contact details of these farmers.

    “So we are giving you one month to disburse the monies to them quickly. Call them so that they will give their bank details so you can do the transfer for them.”

  • Accra Psychiatric Hospital, National Blood Service, others cited for breaching procurement laws

    Accra Psychiatric Hospital, National Blood Service, others cited for breaching procurement laws

    Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), James Klutse-Avedzi, has raised concerns that many Public Health Institutions in Ghana have been engaging in procurement practices without adherence to the procurement laws.

    He noted that these institutions often disregard Section 20 of the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act, despite recommendations from the Auditor-General in annual reports to cease such practices.

    This observation was made during the second day of the PAC sitting in the Parliament House to examine the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana – Ministries, Departments, and Other Agencies for the year ending December 31, 2022.

    The Committee summoned the Ministry of Health, represented by the Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, to address various queries outlined against the agencies and hospitals under the Ministry.

    Common infractions cited in the Auditor-General’s Report for 2022 include non-payment of rent, non-competitive procurement, payment of unearned salaries, hire purchase of vehicles, and unsupported payments.

    Some of the clinics and institutions that were cited in the report for uncompetitive procurement includes Castle Clinic, Nurses Training College, Pantang, Princess Marie Louise Children Hospital, Accra Psychiatric Hospital, National Blood Service among others.

    The Director General of the Ghana Health Service was also advised by members of the Committee to recruit more procurement officers to help in procuring items for the various agencies by complying with the laws.

  • PAC orders arrest of Ahamansu LA former Head Teacher over unearned salary

    PAC orders arrest of Ahamansu LA former Head Teacher over unearned salary

    The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), James Klutse-Avedzi, has directed the Kadjebi District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to involve the Ghana Police in the arrest of the former Head Teacher of Ahamansu LA Erishad Primary School, Mr. Krampah Patrick Wisdom.

    This action comes in response to the revelation that Mr. Krampah Patrick Wisdom received GHC72,759.32 in unearned salary.

    The committee discovered, based on the 2022 Auditor-General’s Report on the Accounts of Ghana – Ministries, Departments, and Other Agencies, that Mr. Krampah Patrick Wisdom had vacated his post on February 1, 2018, and joined the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) as a Project Assistant.

    Despite leaving his position, he received salary payments from February 2018 to June 2020, resulting in the total unearned salary of GHC72,759.32.

    The Auditor-General has therefore recommended that the Regional Education Director should ensure that the District Director of Education recovers the amount of GHC72,759.32 from Mr. Krampah Patrick Wisdom with interest at the prevailing Bank of Ghana rate and pay same into the Auditor-General’s Recoveries Account with the Bank of Ghana, failing which the amount should be recovered from the District Director and the Validators.

    However, the Chairman of the Committee stated that the action of the Former Head Teacher contravenes Regulation 92 of the Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I. 2378) and Mr. Krampah Patrick Wisdom must be picked up by the Police.

    The Director General of Ghana Education Service, Dr. Eric Nkansah and the Deputy Minister of Education, Gifty Twum Ampofo led the various Education Directorates and Services to answer irregularities cited against them in the 2022 Auditor-General’s Report.

  • LIVESTREAMING: Hawa Koomson’s Fisheries Ministry appears before Public Accounts Committee

    LIVESTREAMING: Hawa Koomson’s Fisheries Ministry appears before Public Accounts Committee

    The Public Account Committee (PAC) is conducting public hearings on the 2020 Auditor-General’s Report on Public Accounts of Ghana for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

    The recent hearings included interviews with representatives from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

    The Public Accounts Committee initiated the public hearings on the Auditor-General’s report on the Public Accounts of Ghana for Ministries, Departments, and Other Agencies (MDAs) for the year ending December 31, 2020, starting on January 17, 2023.

    During the hearings, representatives from the Ministry of Interior and its agencies, including the Ghana Police Service and Ghana Immigration Service, have appeared before the committee.

  • Controller boycott PAC without permission of absence

    Controller boycott PAC without permission of absence

    Controller and Accountant General, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem did not appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) last Monday, leaving some committee members puzzled by his absence.

    Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem was scheduled to respond to questions on behalf of his office, an agency of the Ministry of Finance, but he failed to attend without seeking permission from the committee.

    The Controller and Accountant-General, who sought to represent the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a parliamentary candidate at New Akyem Swedru, was unsuccessful in the polls on Saturday, January 27, 2024.

    Votes

    Kwaning-Bosompem suffered defeat at the hands of the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, securing only 94 votes compared to the incumbent’s 194.

    During the PAC session on Monday, Deputy Minister for Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, who led the ministry and its agencies, attempted to explain the Controller and Accountant General’s absence. However, her explanation was not well received.

    Yusif Sulemana, the MP for Bole Bamboi and a PAC member, mentioned that Kwaning-Bosompem had indicated that his participation in the NPP primaries would not impact his work. Therefore, he should not have been absent just because he lost in the primaries.

    Outburst
    This comment by the MP led to an outburst of laughter at the committee sitting.

    “I want to ask whether the controller is on leave.

    If he is on leave, let us know because we were told that he was contesting for an election, and he said that he was still at post and was capable of handling the two activities, so why is he not here?He should have been here, regardless of the loss,” the Bole Bambi MP said.

    The MP insisted that Osei-Asare should give a tangible reason why the Accountant-General was absent, but the Chairman of PAC, James Klutse Avedzi, came to the rescue of the deputy minister by asking members of the committee to shelve their questions on Kwaning-Bosompem for a later date.

  • Refund GHS32,620 with interest – PAC directs CAGD Western Regional Director

    Refund GHS32,620 with interest – PAC directs CAGD Western Regional Director

    The Western Regional Director of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) has been directed by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament to refund GHS32,620 with interest to the state.

    This directive comes as a result of his failure to rectify an inadvertent overpayment of pension gratuity to a retired fire officer, Station Officer 1 Elijah Ankrah, in 2017.

    Ankrah, who voluntarily retired, received GHS66,337 instead of the correct GHS33,716. The oversight was brought to light during the PAC’s public hearing on Monday, January 29, 2024, where they were reviewing the Auditor-General’s report on the Public Accounts of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for the year concluding on December 31, 2022.

    The auditors’ recommendation, encapsulated in paragraph 113 of the report, urged the Controller and Accountant General to ensure the retrieval of the overpaid amount, along with interest at the Bank of Ghana’s prevailing rates, from Mr Elijah Ankrah.

    Failure to secure repayment from Ankrah would necessitate the amount being recovered from the regional director.

    Expressing dissatisfaction with the regional director’s inability to recover the funds from Mr Elijah Ankrah, Chairman Avedzi stated: “So, this committee is upholding the recommendation of the Auditor General.”

    The PAC’s proceedings, initiated on January 29, are scheduled to conclude on Friday, February 23, 2024. This directive emphasizes the committee’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and adherence to financial protocols within governmental entities, ensuring accountability in the management of public funds.

  • Health Minister and his deputies absent themselves from PAC meeting

    Health Minister and his deputies absent themselves from PAC meeting

    A disgruntled member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has voiced his disappointment over the absence of Health Minister Kweku Agyemang Manu and his two deputies at the committee meeting on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

    The situation escalated when the Ministry’s Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Emma Ofori Agyemang, informed the committee that she was standing in for the Chief Director and the Ministers, who had not yet arrived.

    She continued, “My minister too is not back from the constituency, as well as the other two deputy ministers. So I’ll be leading the discussion on behalf of the Chief Director.”

    Unhappy with the information, a visibly upset Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi, Hon. Yusif Sulemana retorted, “Mr Chairman, I’m not convinced with the reason why the minister and two deputies are not here.”

    “We have colleagues who have contested in the elections and are here. If they’ve lost, there are people who have lost and are here. If two of the deputies lost, that’s fine. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t work.”

    He further queried, “Are they resigning? If they are not, they should be here. The worst of it is that the Chief Director is also not here. They are not taking us seriously.”

    Another contentious situation arose when the leadership of the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital was noticeably absent.

    This irked the committee members, who sought additional answers in the absence of the responsible officials.

    A member of the Committee, Samuel Atta Mills said “This is really serious.”

    “Ministry of Health, Ministers is not here, two deputies are not here. And now when we call the departments, they are not here. What is happening at the Ministry of Health, what’s going on?” the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem MP quizzed further.

    Madam Emma Ofori Agyemang, in response, asserted that the absence of the Health Minister, his deputies, and the leadership of the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre was not intentional.

    “Nothing untoward is happening. We asked all the heads to be here. Why they are not here, I cannot tell. I believe they probably are late or something like that, but it ought not to have been so,” she explained.

    Committee Chairman James Klutse Avedzi urged the delegation to investigate and ascertain the whereabouts of the absent heads to ensure the smooth continuation of the hearing.

    “Detail someone to get in touch with them and let them come,” he directed.

  • Confusion rocks PAC meeting as Sam George asks of age of GRA Commissioner  

    Confusion rocks PAC meeting as Sam George asks of age of GRA Commissioner  

    Confusion gripped the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting held today, January 29, 2024, when Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Hon. Sam George,  posed a question on the age of the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). 

    Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah appeared before the Committee with the Deputy Finance Minister, Hon Abena Osei-Asare, to respond to questions on some infractions.

    During the meeting Mr Nartey George asked when the Commissioner-General attained the age of 60. First, Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, interjected, arguing that Sam George’s question is a “personal” one.

    However, Sam George defended his question, arguing that the Finance Minister came before Parliament to inform the House on behalf of President Akufo-Addo that he [President] was no longer going to give contract extensions to people above the age of 60, especially when their expertise was not scarce. 

    “And so if I ask a question that which year did the Commissioner of the Ghana Revenue Authority attain the age of 60, it is not a personal question, it is not a personal question [because] he is a public servant,” he added.

    After this clarification, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Hon Abena Osei-Asare, also mounted a defense for the GRA boss, arguing that the question is not a public interest question but the chairman of the committee, James Klutse Avedzi, insisted that the Commissioner General should answer the question.

  • Controller and Accountant General fails to honour PAC invite

    Controller and Accountant General fails to honour PAC invite

    Controller and Accountant General, Mr. Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, chose to abstain from appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, January 29, following his recent defeat in the parliamentary primary.

    Scheduled to address pertinent questions before the Committee, Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem was noticeably absent when proceedings commenced. The Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei Asare, conveyed that the Controller and Accountant General couldn’t attend due to unforeseen circumstances.

    Despite this explanation, the committee insisted on Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem’s presence to address critical questions. Although the Controller and Accountant General sent his three deputies as representatives, some committee members rejected this and demanded his personal attendance.

    However, PAC Chairman James Klutse Avedzi ruled that the committee should proceed with the hearing.

    Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem suffered a defeat in the Akim Swedru parliamentary primary on Saturday, securing 94 votes against the incumbent MP Kennedy Osei, who received 194. Despite endorsements from high-profile personalities, his decision to enter politics faced opposition, with calls for his resignation or removal from office.

    The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) Ghana demanded his immediate removal, alleging a breach of the Civil Service Act, PNDC Law 327. Additionally, MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor filed a lawsuit against Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem on January 10, 2024.

  • Zoomlion responds to remarks made by PAC chairman

    Zoomlion responds to remarks made by PAC chairman

    The Management of Zoomlion Ghana Limited finds it quite regrettable, the publications in the media on comments attributed to the Hon. James Klutse Avedzi, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) on Wednesday, 20th September 2023, cautioning Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) against renewing contracts with Zoomlion.

    The Company finds it unfortunate that such a directive will be given regarding our fumigation contracts with MMDAs, whereas the two parties have not been brought together to discuss any contractual issues. It is crucial to highlight that Zoomlion Ghana Limited operates with the utmost integrity and professionalism, and we have consistently upheld our contractual obligations with the MMDAs.

    The publication suggested that Parliament had sanctioned the non-renewal of our waste management contracts. The Company is, however, unaware of any such indication from the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, or any of the other contracting parties, namely the MMDCEs. Moreover, Parliament is not party to the subsisting contract

    Zoomlion on 8th June 2022 actively participated in a PAC hearing to address questions and provide comprehensive explanations with evidence regarding the issues raised in the Auditor General’s report. During this hearing, the company presented substantial evidence to demonstrate our commitment to fulfilling our contractual obligations to the MMDAs.

    Following the PAC hearing, there has been no adverse report or further queries from the PAC suggesting any irregularities with Zoomlion’s performance. This, to us, indicates that the PAC was satisfied with the explanations and evidence we provided during the hearing. It is therefore surprising to us hearing such damaging reportage from the Chair of the PAC.

    We firmly believe that it is in the best interest of and fairness to all parties involved to engage in open and constructive dialogue rather than resorting to actions and pronouncements that may tarnish the image of the company. Over the years, Zoomlion has consistently delivered world-class waste management services to various MMDAs, resulting in a significant reduction in sanitation-related health issues across the country.

    We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of service delivery and compliance with all contractual obligations. We are open to continued collaboration and dialogue with the relevant authorities to address any concerns and ensure the continued provision of exceptional waste management services.

    Zoomlion Ghana Limited continues to pursue its transformational agenda of establishing state-of-the-art waste recycling plants, waste water treatment plants and medical waste treatment plants among others across the sixteen regions of Ghana to modernize waste management in Ghana and will not be distracted by such publications.

    Zoomlion is also set in digitizing payment for waste collection with the launch of its “change your borla style” E-payment system to make payment for waste collection in Ghana, a seamless and easy thing to do.

    Zoomlion Ghana Limited remains a responsible corporate entity that works ethically with integrity to promote environmental sanitation across the country. We, therefore, find such publication a deliberate attempt to dent the hard-earned reputation of the company, both in Ghana and at the global level.

    The Management of Zoomlion Ghana Limited wishes to reassure its stakeholders and the general public that it had done no wrong and calls on the media to be decorous in their reportage of such national reports against the company which has been at the forefront of driving sustainable waste management in Ghana and beyond.

  • PAC directs MMDAs not to renew Zoomlion contract

    PAC directs MMDAs not to renew Zoomlion contract

    The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), James Klutse Avedzi, has advised Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) against renewing contracts with waste management firm Zoomlion.

    He cited the absence of clear benefits and noted that Parliament had endorsed the non-renewal of the waste management company’s contracts.

    This warning came after the Fanteakwa South Municipal Assembly failed to provide the necessary documents for renewing its contract with Zoomlion.

    Additionally, the committee recommended a comprehensive review of the existing agreements with Zoomlion, as many Assemblies lack transparency regarding the terms of their contracts with the company.

    “I am told that there is a clause in the contract that gives automatic renewal. Unless you the assembly will communicate to the company the intention not to renew.

    “So go back and read your contract document and then make reference to that clause, and inform Zoomlion that when your contract expires, you will not renew it again. Because you are not deriving any benefits from that, you are just wasting that money.”

    Avedzi’s caution is raised in response to increasing concerns regarding the cost-effectiveness and transparency of Zoomlion’s contracts with MMDAs.

    Critics have previously contended that the company charges excessive fees for its services and that its contracts are frequently granted without proper due process.

  • COCOBOD directed to submit audited report on cocoa roads in 2 weeks

    COCOBOD directed to submit audited report on cocoa roads in 2 weeks

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has issued a two-week ultimatum to COCOBOD (Ghana’s Cocoa Board) for the submission of its audited report concerning cocoa roads.

    This report will encompass details about the contracts awarded by COCOBOD for cocoa roads, the current status of these projects, and the payments made to the contractors involved.

    Minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza, voiced his exasperation during the committee meeting over COCOBOD and the Ministry of Agriculture’s persistent refusal to provide these reports to Parliament.

    He noted that cocoa road contractors are also concerned about the outcome hence the need to have the report for assurance.

    “We just want information because it is getting worse. This is Parliament, we need to do something about it …so it is not witch-hunting it is just to find a solution to a problem affecting everybody in the country,” he said.  

    PAC Chair James Klutse Avedzi on the back of this development, cited the constitution which empowers committees of Parliament to demand documents from institutions.

    He, therefore, directed COCOBOD to submit the report in two weeks.

    “We want you to give us that report. Whether it has been submitted somewhere or not, we are demanding it. Well, we give you two weeks,” he said.

  • PAC slams UG VC, others over NDK investment, more infractions

    PAC slams UG VC, others over NDK investment, more infractions

    Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, and other officials faced difficulties in adequately answering various questions related to alleged infractions during a session with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

    The PAC expressed dissatisfaction with the officials’ lack of preparation and advised the University to be better prepared for future appearances.

    The PAC also stated that it may recommend the prosecution of some University and NDK Financial Services officials concerning a GH¢1.2 million investment fund that has not been recouped despite repeated orders from the PAC.

    The Office of Research Innovation and Development (ORID) at UG, Legon, made the investment, and since 2019, GH¢1,234,767.59 has been locked up with NDK Financial Services, with no indication of recovery.

    As of March 17, 2020, only GH¢100,000.00 has been redeemed, leaving GH¢1,234,767.59 outstanding, even though the due date was October 15, 2019.

  • Accra Digital Centre occupants breaching tenancy agreement to be evicted

    Accra Digital Centre occupants breaching tenancy agreement to be evicted

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has instructed the Accra Digital Centre (ADC) to evict occupants who have sublet their spaces to other businesses for a fee, a clear violation of the tenancy agreement between the centre and the tenants engaged in this practice.

    This issue came to light during a recent session when the management of the Accra Digital Centre appeared before the committee to address findings from the 2021 Auditor General’s report.

    According to the report, one of the tenants, Ghana Innovation Hub, was found to have rented out part of its allocated space to other businesses at a commercial rate higher than the fee they paid to the ADC. This subletting breached the terms of their tenancy agreement.

    Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, a member of the committee, emphasized that such illegal practices deny the country much-needed revenue and urged the centre and other state institutions to be vigilant against such actions to protect the state’s interests and enhance revenue.

    “We noted that Ghana Inno­vation Hub is one of the tenants of ADC who benefits from the highly subsidized rent rate of $8 per square meter per month and occupies 650 square meters.

    In response to the findings and recommendations, the Chief Executive Officer of the Accra Digital Centre, Kwadwo Baah Agyemang, stated that the contract between the centre and Ghana Innovation Hub had been reviewed, and measures have been put in place to prevent such occurrences in the future.

    “This committee also exists to educate the public on what our laws say. This is one of those practices that the law mandates the centre, as the landlord to evict whoever that’s in breach of the agreement. We encourage the management of the centre to ap­ply such decisions to deter others from doing so,” he added.

    Additionally, the Ghana Post Company Limited is developing a Scheme of Service to guide recruitment and staff management, aiming to provide a coherent framework for staff recruitment, development, and career progression in public institutions. The absence of such a scheme, as cited in the 2021 Auditor General’s report, had led to some staff members holding the same rank for about 10 years.

  • PAC sets deadline for GRA’s Safaritech contract details

    PAC sets deadline for GRA’s Safaritech contract details

    Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), James Klutse Avedzi, has given the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) a two-week ultimatum to provide information on their contract with auditing firm Safaritech.

    The demand comes after allegations were raised by Sam George, a committee member and Ningo-Prampram MP, regarding the legitimacy of Safaritech, including claims of its delisting and an office address linked to a barber shop.

    The Commissioner-General of GRA, Rev. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, failed to address these concerns during questioning by Sam George. In response, Chairman Avedzi has set the two-week deadline for GRA to furnish the committee with comprehensive details of the contract.

    The contract in question has recently been the subject of a tax dispute between telecommunications company MTN and the GRA. During the committee session, Chairman Avedzi emphasized the need for the Commissioner-General to disclose the nature of the relationship between GRA and Safaritech Ghana Limited.

    He also stated that the Commissioner-General may be called upon to provide further explanations if necessary.

    “Mr. Commissioner General, you can provide the relationship you have with Safaritech Ghana Limited to the Chair through the Committee. If there is a need for us to call you for further explanation we will do so.”

  • I’m not afraid to die – Dampare

    I’m not afraid to die – Dampare

    The Inspector General of Police Dr George Akuffo Dampare has said he is not scared of death.

    The only thing he says he is afraid of is birth and not death.

    Answering questions on the directive against the publication of doom prophecies while appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Thursday, January 19, he said “Why should it be such that you found something, God has revealed something to you and you want to share it with me, you have to make it showmanship and tell the whole country that I am about to die, which of course I am not afraid of.

    “The only thing I am afraid of is birth because if you don’t want to die you shouldn’t allow yourself to be birthed, so once I have been born, I am going to die.

    “As for death, the only thing I can do is to become a friend of it so that it can treat me with some leniency.

    “So, the point is that you go and make such an announcement to the whole world, and I have a wife, I have children, I have a parent who is alive and I have family members.  So every day when I live in my house and I always get up around 3AM, but today, I slept up to 5 AM, my wife will be thinking that I am dead. This is something she is going to live with for the rest of her life. Why is it that God himself did not tell us when we are going to die, it means a lot.”

    He further justified the directive regarding the communication of negative prophecies.

    He insisted that nobody has the right to cause fear and panic through prophecies.

    Dr Dampare told the PAC that “Even then, if you have a prophecy about somebody dying, you have a way to communicate it in our typical Ghanaian environment even in proverbs for the person to decipher but you don’t put fear and panic in the person, the person’s immediate family, and the person’s extended family and the whole country.

    “Honourable Chair, you were elected to be Members of Parliament by our votes therefore, you have been empowered by the Constitution and other laws to make certain pronouncements, which is acceptable. But those who are prophets, who elected them over my life to just get out there and make pronouncements about me when I am not a member of your family, I am not your church member and probably the person might not even believe in God.

    “We [Police] are deep-seated Christians that we don’t  joke with Godliness but we will also not allow anybody to use God to create a mess and  confusion because God is not a God of confusion and God is not a God of disorderliness.”

    The Police cautioned Prophets over the way and manner they communicate prophecies.

    “As the year 2022 draws to a close, we wish to once again entreat the general public, especially faith-based groups to ensure continuous compliance with the law as it relates to the communication of prophecies,” the police said in a statement on Tuesday, December 27, 2022.

    “Let us continue to remember that whereas we have the right to practice our faith in religion, freedom of worship and speech, this right must not be exercised in violation of the rights of others and the public interest,” it added.

    The warning that was first given 2021 forced some prophets to adopt different styles in communicating prophecies.

    Source: 3news.com

  • PAC directs Korle-Bu to refund GH¢36,000 unpaid salaries

    PAC directs Korle-Bu to refund GH¢36,000 unpaid salaries

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Wednesday asked the Management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to refund GH¢36,000 paid as unearned salaries to some staff in 2020. 

    Mr Ebenezer Prince Arhin, the Deputy Human Resource Director, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, appearing before the PAC, said efforts made towards retrieving the funds from relatives of some of the deceased staff, in the last two years, had proven futile. 

    “The unearned salaries are GH¢115,889,12, and Korle-Bu has been able to recover GH¢79, 000 plus and the outstanding is GH¢36,000. We have made frantic efforts to recover that amount but some of them are deceased. We have gotten to their next of kin and we are pursuing them for the money,” he said.  

    Mr Arhin, therefore, pledged that management would do all it could to retrieve the monies as directed by the Committee.  

    Mr James Klutse Avedzi, the Chairman, PAC, rejected the explanation of the Hospital and charged the Management to refund the unrecovered amount to the Hospital’s accounts.  

    PAC commenced sittings on Monday, January 16, 2023, to examine the Auditor General’s Report on public accounts of the Government for the year 2020 and also scrutinise the accounts of the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies per the recommendations of the Report. 

    The accounts of public boards, corporations, and other statutory institutions would also be considered.  

    Proceedings of the almost two-week sitting are expected to be concluded on Friday, January 27, according to a statement issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.  

    Source: GNA

  • ‘Continue to find strength’ – Hushpuppi’s best friend, Pac, writes to him ahead of his verdict

    The best friend of Hushpuppi, Pac has penned down an open letter to him as the day of his verdict approaches.

    Hushpuppi has been in the prison in the United States since 2020 after he was arrested in his mansion in the Arab Emirates. He was then extradited to the US prisons for defrauding institutions and individuals.

    Pac has taken to his page to pen down a letter for his friend as he shares a video of their good moment before his arrest

    He prayed for his friend to find strength and also prayed for the freedom of Hushpuppi. Pac also reiterated his faithfulness to Hushpuppi and expressed hope for their reunion.

    “Dear Rahman,

    I write you from a place of hope and pain, the hope that as your verdict draws close and a pronouncement kick starts, our reunion is made possible, and the pain that comes with every day knowing that you are in there. Rahman, it’s your third birthday behind guard bars, I pray that you continue to find strength, and I pray for peace From within, that powers you into greatness. Happy Birthday, Blood.

    Forever Faithful.”

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Sikiru Adekoya (@officialpac02)

    Nigerian billionaire based in Dubai Hushpuppi born Raymond Igbalode was arrested in 2020 by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence and the International Police based on the account of money laundering after some cases of fraud were linked to them.

    He was picked up together with his friend called Woodberry in Dubai.

    According to sources, Interpol arrested Hushpuppi for Covid-19 ventilator $35million fraud which was purported to be given to Native Americans during the Corona Virus Pandemic.

    Source:pulse.gh

  • UMaT Finance Director surcharged GH¢8,500 by PAC

    Director of Finance at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Jonathan Sakoe has been surcharged by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament to refund an amount GH¢8,555.50 as unretired impress in the acquisition of lands and buildings by the school.

    The amount of GH¢18,777.50 was allocated a consultant, Clement Aboagye Laryea as part of fees charged for the processing of documents, ground rent of the building and a GRA stamp. However, work done in respect of this amounted to GH¢ 10,222.50 living a balance of over GH¢8,555.50

    The Director of Finance who failed to provide reasons as to why he failed to retrieve the amount from the consultant was charged by Chairman of the committee, James Avedzi Klutse upon recommendations of the auditors to refund the money from his personal account.

    This happened at the PAC sitting today, Thursday, September 3, 2020.

    Source: Class FM

  • PAC to hold public sitting tomorrow

    The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament will hold public sitting from Tuesday, September 1 to Friday, September 12, 2020 to examine the report of the Auditor-General of Ghana on Public Boards, Corporations and other Statutory Institutions for 2017 refereed to the committee for consideration.

    A statement signed by Ms Kate Addo, head of Public Affairs, Parliament noted that a total of 47 agencies which fall under 13 ministries are to be examined.

    These include: Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Bank of Bank (BoG), Ghana Cocoa Board (GCB), Ghana Education Trust Fund, Ghana Free Zones Board, Forestry Research Institute (CSIR), Ghana Aids Commission, Lands Commission, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority among others.

    The public sittings will be held at the committee rooms 1 and 2 of the administration block, parliament house at 9 am each day.

    All COVID-19 protocols, according to the statement will be strictly adhered to.

    Source: Class FM

  • Two finance officers arrested at PAC sitting

    Two finance officers of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) are in police custody following an attempt to mislead the committee during a hearing today.

    The offenders, Isaac Akowuah and James Essilfie who are current and former finance officers from the Sefwi Akontombra District Assembly respectively were whisked away to the Parliament Police Station.

    PAC orders arrest of two persons over malfeasance at Sefwi Akontombra Assembly

    Their arrest was ordered by the Chairman of the committee James Klutse Avedzie who believed the behavior put up by these officers was a deliberate attempt to hide some payment vouchers from the committee.

    Following an order by PAC, the two officers appeared before the Committee to defend their spending.

    But after going through the receipts presented, Mr Klutse Avedzi found out that most of the payment vouchers submitted did not tally with current receipts and they both stated diverse reasons for spending.

    The alleged culprits tried offering reasons for the confusion but the displeased chairman would have none of it.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com