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Author: Fred GhanaMPs

2017 AG Report: “Those who cause infractions would be surcharged”—Chairman

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Dr. James Kluste Averdzi has revealed that in February 2020 when the Committee start dealing with the report of the Auditor-General for 2017, “individuals” would be surcharged for infractions they cause.

According to the chairman, the Auditor-General after finishing its work on site and concludes exit conference a meeting between the audit staff and the various Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDAs).

Discussions would be held on their findings, and those they are satisfied with would not find their way onto the Auditor-General’s report; those that are not satisfactory would be given thirty days to give a response.

“If they fail to respond within the thirty days, the Auditor-General would make a recommendation and it would be in his report, the AG would surcharge you before you appear before us. We would ask ‘have you paid’?”

Dr. James Kluste Averdzi who was speaking in an interview with journalists at the Parliament House said that is the new position the committee is going to take, adding that enough time has been given for them to prepare of this.

“We would not tolerate the practice where money would not be paid, again money would not be paid from state resources, it would be paid from individuals involved”, he said.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Parliament to commence fourth session Tuesday, 28th January 2020

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The first meeting of the fourth session of the seventh Parliament would commence on Tuesday the 28th of January 2020.

First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Joseph Osei-Owusu in a statement noted that by the powers conferred on the Speaker by clause (1) of Article 112 gives the Speaker the powers to recall Parliament.

Meanwhile the Public Account Committee (PAC) is holding public hearing to examine the report of the Auditor-General for 2015 to 2016.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Waija-Gabwe MCE hauled before PAC for his absence

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Chairman of the Public Account Committee, Dr. James Klutse Averdzi has demanded that the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Waija-Gabwe, Patrick Kwesi Barko Kumor appear before the Committee which entered its second day of public hearing on Tuesday, the 14th of January 2020.

Coordinating Director of the Waija-Gabwe Municipal Assembly, Mercy Quansah told the Committee his MCE is absent because he indicated to her that she would be at the Results Fair which opened at the Accra International Conference hall on Tuesday.

According to the PAC chair, the MCE cannot dodge the Committee because he knew he would be live on television so he dashed down to the Results Fair at the Accra International Conference.

The Chairman asked that the Coordinating Director of the Assembly leave the Committee and ensure that the MCE is before the Committee.

“Result Fair, this PAC work is part of the result fair, we have given you money, tell us how you spent the money before you got the result which you want to showcase, if we have issues with the way you spent; call him and tell him we want him here”.

The Coordinating Director explained to the Committee that his MCE is a member of the Sanitation Committee that has to be represented at the Results Fair hence his absence.

Her response followed a request from the PAC Chairman demanding a letter indicating that the MCE was invited and actually has a role to play at the event. Meanwhile, no such letter was provided to the committee.

After Ningo-Prampram was through with its public hearing, Waija-Gabwe was recalled back, but the MCE was nowhere to be found after thirty minutes. It finally emerged that the MCE was not at the Fair but rather at the office.

The MCE Patrick Kwesi Barko Kumor however showed up after the Committee meeting had been adjourned for the day, but refused to comment on the issue.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

PAC: Three Assemblies to reappear with six absentee Assemblies

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

At the ongoing public hearing of the Public Account Committee (PAC) three Assemblies Ningo-Prampram, Waija-Gabwe and Ga Central are supposed to reappear before the Committee next week Tuesday 21st of January 2020.

It came out  that the Committee was not satisfied with answers provided when the three Assemblies from the Greater Accra Region showed up on Tuesday, to be examined on the utilization of the Common Fund and other statutory funds.

Whiles some Assemblies gave unsatisfactory answers to the committee, others were not current on the 2015 report of the Auditor-General and were asked to go and prepare adequately and come back to face the Committee.

Meanwhile, the following Assemblies who had questions to answer did not show up at the public hearing of PAC; La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, Adentan Municipal Assembly, Shai Osudoku District Assembly, La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly, Ada West District Assembly, Ada East District Assembly, Accra Metropolitan Assembly and Ga East Municipal Assembly.

Chairman of the Committee revealed that letters were sent to the Coordinating Councils for onwards transmission to the affected Assemblies.

“We do not see the reasons why they should not be here; we are issuing warning for them to appear before the Committee today”.

Checks conducted by Ghanamps.com revealed that as at the time the committee adjourned its meeting, the MCE of Adenta Municipality had showed up at the Committee sitting.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanadistricts.co

Absence of Central Regional Minister cause postponement of PAC public hearing

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The absence of the Central Regional Minister on Monday January 13, 2020 forced the Public Account Committee of Parliament to call off its public hearing on its utilization of common fund by the Assemblies in the Auditor General’s report for 2015 to 2016.

In an interview with the chairman of PAC, Dr. James Klutse Averdzi noted that the Central Regional Minister   Kwamena Duncan   said they had not received the invitation letter hence they had to call the meeting off.

He further pointed out that they will investigate into the issue because other regions that are supposed to appear before the Committee had given indications that they have received their letters to appear before the committee.

“On the 6th of this month we sent letters out Grater Accra, Volta, Eastern, Oti, Western and West North Regions have confirmed they have their letter, we are cross checking”.

Dr. Averdzi pointed out that a new date has been given to the Central Region Assemblies Tuesday 21st January 2020.

Meanwhile, Greater Accra Assemblies are to appear before the PAC Tuesday 14th January 2020 to answer questions on utilization of District Assemble common fund and other statutory funds.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

PAC to tackle 2017 Auditor General’s report in February—Chairman

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Chairman of the Public Account Committee (PAC) Dr. James Kluste Averdzi has revealed that they would start taking the 2017 report of the Auditor-General next month, as they are poised to end  the 2015 to 2016 report 21st of this month.

According to the chairman they would start with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the Greater Accra Region.

He further added that when the Committee is through with the MDAs they would move to the Assemblies to deal with their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) and Common Fund.

“This year being an election year, we want to speed up so that by August of 2020 when the House would be rising for campaign we would have finished with the 2017 report completely and then start work on the 2018 report”, he said.

Dr Averdzi noted that before the election they should be done with the 2018 report.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

PAC to hold a week public hearing on Auditor General’s report

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The Public Account Committee (PAC) of Parliament would start a week of public hearing to examine the reports of the Auditor General referred to it by the Speaker of the House, to be submitted to the plenary.

PAC would start its public hearing today Monday 13th January 2020 to Monday 20th January 2020 and will look at report of the Auditor-General on the management and utilization of District Assembly Common Fund and other statutory fund for the year ended 31st December 2015 and 2016.

Assemblies in the Central Region had been cited in both the 2015 and 2016 report and would be appearing before the Committee today.

In an earlier interview with the chairman of PAC, Dr. James Kluste Averdzi, he noted that the Committee could not hold public hearing during the third meeting of last year because it was a budget meeting and the focus was on the 2020 budget.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Atiwa East MP celebrates Christmas with children in her constituency

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, Abena Osei Asare fetes children in her constituency as part of the Christmas festivities.

The occasion benefited children in three communities including Moseaso, New Jejeti, and Krobom.

The lawmaker noted that as the Lord has blessed her, she is replicating same by sharing with the children in the constituency and indicated that she had adopted three communities this year to celebrate the Christmas as she does for communities since becoming MP for the constituency.

And added that most of the time it is not the wish of the children to be stubborn and not to go to school, all they need is to be shown love by the parents and guidance’s.

Mrs. Abena Osei Asare admonished parents to show love to their children by talking to them and creating platform to discuss with them.

“If you talk to the children in love, they will listen and do it, if they do the wrong things let us rebuke them in love as Christ our Lord does to us”.

Also it is the wish of every child to be obedient to their parents the lawmaker said and added that by so doing, when the children grow up to become parents in the future they will ensure that same is transmitted to their children.

She further thanked the children for praying for her and she believes the Lord hears the prayers of little children.

Chiefs from the three Zongo Communities, parents and communities leaders and party executives of  the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the constituency were at  the event to give their support to the Atiwa East lawmaker.

District Chief Executive for Atiwa East, lawyer Nkansah urged the children to pray for the MP to be victorious in the upcoming 2020 parliamentary elections so that she can do more for them.

“A year like this when she is victorious we will call you all together like we have done today, pray for long life and good health for her”.

Party Chairman for Atiwa East, Albert Antwi on his part urged the children and their parents to pray for the MP so that whatever vision she has for the constituency the Lord will let it come to pass.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

We need more debate in the fifth legislature—Edwin Snowe

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs
As the life span of the fourth Legislature of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), comes to an end on 3rd of February 2020, Leader of the Liberian delegation to the Community Parliament, Edwin Melvin Snowe is calling for more debate in the next legislature.

According to Edwin Snowe, the fourth Legislature had been quite exciting with a number of good and bad sides, but noted there are a lot that will have to be improved.

“I would say it is a glass half full empty, with the passage of the supplementary Act which enhances our power there is a lot of responsibility on the Parliament, as we move into the fifth legislature it is expected that we build on what we have, the positives to make the fifth legislature better”.

In an interview with journalists in Abuja Nigeria Edwin Melvin Snowe Junior further advocated for a more robust  fifth legislature that will see lawmakers debate and not just one person just talking, (Speaker).

“We want to put issues on the floor and be more proactive, if there are issues in our region like an upcoming six elections in the West African sub-region we should have engagement and have MPs going to different countries collaborating with their colleagues to ensure there is peace and security in the sub-region”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Abuja

New Jejeti Zongo chief admonish kids to take their education serious

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The New Jejeti Zongo chief in the Atiwa East Constituency, Alhaji Salifu Musah has admonished children to take their education seriously in order to become prominent and responsible people in the future.

According to him, if the children want to become like the Member of Parliament (MP) Abena Osei-Asare, they need to take their education seriously.

He made this remarks when the MP and Deputy Minister of Finance threw a party for children in New Jejeti, an annual event she normally organizes during Christmas where she selects three or four communities and throws party for the children during Christmas festivity.

Alhaji Salifu thanked the MP for her benevolence and added that he had never witnessed such a thing before in the community, stating that such events where children are organised during Christmas, fed and given books and allow to play with facilities are only seen in the big cities.

“We ask for long life for the MP so that years like this we will get more than what we have witness now”.

He charged parents to take education of their wards seriously and added that the children should obey their parents, in other to become responsible leaders in the community.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com