News:
July 7, 2021
The Judicial Service and the Ministry of Education (MOE) together with its agency, the Ghana Education Service (GES) on Tuesday July 06, 2021 appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to account for public funds at their disposal in respect of the Auditor-General’s Report on their finances for the year ended 31st December, 2017.
They took turns to answer questions on what was described by the Auditor-General as poor accounting and weak control systems in these Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) leading to loss of state funds.
PAC queried them for incessant violation of extant rules including non-retirement of personal advances within the financial year and grant of cash advances above approved limits.
The exercise among its various objectives of scrutinizing public expenditure was aimed at mobilizing public opinion to produce a change in attitude towards the spending of public funds and to ensure that public spending produce value for money.
The Committee sitting in Parliament House uncovered a pattern of consistent contravention of relevant constitutional provisions and other financial regulations in the various MDAs by public officials.
Other violations include uncooperative attitude towards Auditors, extra-budgetary expenditures without approval, and withdrawals of funds from accounts for purposes other than the funds were created and without recourse to the Financial Administration Regulations 2004.
The Committee noted that most MDAs do not adhere to the established accounting mechanisms to ensure accountability and transparency sent to them by the Office of the Accountant-General, hence the need to go ahead and check the accounting systems established in most of these agencies.
The Committee, therefore, underscored the need for the Auditor-General to strengthen and streamline the audit process with a view to ensuring prudence in public finance and transactions.
Officials from the Judicial Service were queried on unaccounted deposit of 46,650 euros at Tema High Court and their failure to present Bank Statements for the confirmation of revenue lodged amounting to GHS 357,940 to the Auditors.
Another infraction uncovered was the ineffective control of Value Books at Weija District Magistrate Court which irregularities were attributed to Management’s failure to supervise the activities of the Registrar.
The officials were also cited for excess retention of Internally Generated Funds totaling GHS 285,250 at Offinso District and Tarkwa High Courts and their failure to charge interest on delayed Transfer of Revenue by Zenith Bank to the tune of GHS 3,854,718.07.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com