News:
June 24, 2020
Chairman of the Public Account Committee, Dr. James Kluste Avedzi has given an indication that if the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison does not show up on Wednesday June 24, 2020, the Committee would have no option than to subpoena him.
The Governor and his two deputies were absent on Tuesday when the Committee was billed to examine the report of the Auditor General on the mid-year ended Jun 30 to December 31, 2017 on statement of foreign exchange receipts and payment of the Bank of Ghana.
PAC had to postpone its public hearing when chief directors of the Bank of Ghana were ask to represent the Governor and his two deputies, as the Committee was told they had to be in an emergency meeting.
In an interview, PAC Chairman noted that the Committee had to call the public hearing off because they had to give an opportunity to persons who were supposed to appear before the Committee and did not turn up.
He further pointed out that the Committee would today take both the 2017 to 2018 Auditor General’s report, and “since I became chair the Governor has never appeared before this Committee”, adding that but for that the Committee would have accepted any of the deputies.
He further explain that he does not want a situation where the directors are asked questions and they would say they are not the final authority, “We would need answers to questions in other to write our report”.
Dr. Avedzi explained that on Thursday, the Controller and Accountant General would come before the Committee to answer questions on the 2017 report of the Auditor General on the consolidate account.
Whiles the Finance Ministry would appear before the Committee on Friday to consider the 2017 report of the Auditor General which would consider the utilization of the petroleum revenue. In all three institutions would be examined this week.
As to why the Majority members were not at the public hearing, he pointed out that over the weekend the majority side had their primaries where some lost their seat and needed time for themselves before they get back to the House.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com