PAC queries missing records on 47 air conditioners, chairs at Trade Ministry

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has raised concerns over lapses in asset management at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry after it emerged that several items were issued without proper documentation.

The matter came up when the Committee examined the ministry’s audit report during its sitting on Monday, March 30, 2026.

The Ranking Member for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Samuel Atta Mills, told officials that 47 air conditioners and 16 chairs had been issued without records, describing the situation as a worrying sign of weak internal controls.

He said such lapses undermine accountability and can lead to inaccurate audit findings.

The issue was compounded by a separate case involving a laptop listed in the audit report as missing and linked to a former deputy minister.

The Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mr Sampson Ahi, told the Committee that the laptop had not been missing. He explained that it had been with the ministry’s IT unit for repairs.

Under further questioning, the Chief Director of the ministry, Mr Noah Tumfo, said that at the time of the audit, officials could not immediately trace the device, which led to its classification as missing.

The Chairman described the situation as troubling and warned that poor record-keeping could wrongly affect the reputation of public officials.

“You tarnish a minister’s name and it now comes up that the laptop was with the IT department,” he said.

He added that the development pointed to the absence of a proper audit trail for assets within the ministry.

Mr Ahi acknowledged the lapses and told the Committee that steps would be taken to strengthen inventory controls and documentation.

The PAC is expected to include the issues in its report to Parliament as part of ongoing efforts to enforce accountability in public institutions.