PAC to cite Governor for contempt if...
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has cautioned the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Kofi Wampah, that it will cite him for contempt if he fails to honour any future invitation by the committee.
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The committee gave the caution yesterday when the Deputy Governor of the BoG, Mr Millison Narh, told the PAC that the Governor was unable to attend upon the PAC because he was attending to some official duties.
The explanation did not go down well with the members of the committee, who indicated that no assignment for Dr Wampah could be bigger than his appearance before the committee, which had the powers of the High Court.
Members of the PAC said it was only in the case of ill health that the Governor could be excused from responding to the invitation of the committee.
A member of the PAC, Mr Isaac Asiamah, said: “Apart from the President, which assignment that he (the Governor) has that supersedes Parliament. If Parliament summons you, you are obliged to appear.
“This committee has the powers of the High Court. This is Parliament of Ghana speaking. No assignment supersedes Parliament’s summons.”
Contempt
A Deputy Chairman of PAC, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, said the PAC had the powers of the High Court and that it could cite the Governor for contempt.
“What he is telling the committee has contempt implications. Apart from ill health, which should be certified by a doctor, no reason can prevent you from attending upon Parliament.
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“Let us invoke our contempt powers to make sure that he (Dr Wampah) is dealt with,” he said.
Last Tuesday, the PAC suspended sitting because officials of the BoG who appeared before it said they were not prepared to answer questions from the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Auditor-General’s reports.
The Chairman of the PAC, Mr Kweku Agyeman Manu, then directed that the Governor or at least his deputy should be present at yesterday’s sitting to answer questions from the Auditor-Genera’s reports.
Even an attempt by a Deputy Minister of Finance, Mrs Mona Quartey, to remind the committee that its instruction at Tuesday’s sitting was to the effect that the Governor or at least his deputy was expected at yesterday’s sitting could not soften the stance of the members of PAC.
The PAC members indicated that the Governor had a track record of refusing to honour the committee’s invitation.
Recess
Some of the members insisted that the sitting should be suspended till the Governor appeared before the committee.
To get a finality on the matter, the members went on a five-minute recess.
On their return, Mr Agyeman Manu said the members had agreed that the sitting should continue.
However, he said, if there were outstanding issues after the sitting, the Governor would be expected to appear himself to give the responses.
He said the PAC expected the Governor himself to appear before it in subsequent invitations to the BoG and indicated that he was not “comfortable with the attitude of the Governor”.