PAC tasks Auditor-General on compliance issues

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has tasked the Auditor General to ensure that all government agencies comply with the accounting systems and procedures specified by the Audit Service.

Speaking after the committee brought its public sittings to an end, the Chairman of the committee, Mr James klutse Avedzi, said lots of agencies had failed to comply with accounting systems put in place by the Office of the Accountant-General.

He said this had resulted in the numerous fraudulent transactions by some MDAs.

The Chairman said the committee would submit its recommendations to the House, who would then collectively consider them.

He said this would be after the committee, has come up with a document that neatly outlines and summarises its proceedings and recommendations on government agencies that failed to honour its invitations.

Read; Public Accounts Committee to sanction errant MDAs

Fisheries Ministry

When the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development took their turn to respond to their queries, it was established that the Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission at Kumasi failed to use a competitive process to select a supplier for the purchase of fish feed.

The Auditor-General could not therefore ascertain the reasonableness of the contract awarded Raanan Fish Feed West Africa amounting to GHȼ23,260 and therefore urged the Commission to comply strictly with the requirements of the procurement law.

The Committee, however absolved Phillip Attakpah, a former National Project Coordinator for the implementation of FAO/GOG Co-operative Programme who was cited for receiving unearned salary of GHȼ31,480 because it was found out that he actually worked during the period.

Attorney-General

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mr Godfred Dame flanked by his two deputies and top officials of the Ministry had little difficulty explaining the Auditor-General’s query of three payment vouchers without relevant supporting documents totalling GHȼ6,371.90.

The Attorney General, however, disclosed that the Delta Force vigilante group who stormed the Kumasi Circuit in 2017 to free 13 of their members facing charges of causing mayhem but were discharged by then Attorney General for nolle prosequi are still under investigation by the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

Roads and Highways Ministry

The Roads and Highways Ministry led by the sector Minister, Mr Amoako Attah also appeared before the committee to answer questions on the construction of a modular ferry.

The Audit Report revealed that the Modular Ferry constructed by Messrs Damen Ship Building Netherlands at a cost of €2,788,500 failed to meet the required specifications.

The Committee found out that the anomaly was corrected when the Contractor was recalled to site.

Gender Ministry fails to appear

Officials of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) who have been cited for several infractions in the 2017 Auditor-General’s Report of the Public Accounts of Ministries, Departments and Agencies failed to appear before the Public Accounts Committee.

The Report indicted the MoGCSP for unauthorized investment of GHȼ16,000,000 Ghana School Feeding Programme funds in Dalex Finance and Cal Bank, failure to pay withholding tax of GHȼ9,461,880 to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and unretired imprest of GHȼ79,500 contrary to Regulation 282 of Financial Administration Regulation 2004.

Other infractions the Report detected include payment of unearned salary at its Sekondi Social Welfare Office and an unearned salary totalling GHȼ6,047.64 paid to a Social Development Assistant at Accra Head Office after the officer vacated post from January to December 2016.