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PAC: An improved sanction regime will cure a lot of infractions - Abena Osei-Asare

The Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, Abena Osei-Asare, believes an improved sanction regime will be the cure to excessive infractions at the various state agencies.

Date Created : 10/2/2025 : Story Author : Ghanandistricts.com

Speaking to the media after bringing the three days session to a close on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, she said the Committee observed that agencies don't give the auditors the maximum attention and support during the discharge of their duty, and that explains why a lot of the institutions failed to furnish the auditors with documentations to their transactions, only to provide those same documents later after they have been cited for infractions.

She said the time has come to sensitize these officials who attend to the auditors to gain more insight to the work of the auditors and to make them understand that it pays to give the maximum attention to the auditors when they come.

"Clearly it also tells you that as Ghanaians we are not doing what is expected if us as protecting the public purse, as we're supposed to do".

According to her, another area of concern that runs through most of the institutions is the use of internally generated funds without proper approval.

"In this particular sitting, we saw a lot of infractions in relations to entities using internally generated funds without approval from the Ministry of Finance. So, then you see recommendations like write to the Ministry of Finance through your ministry for approval on this and that".

This, she noted is rampant because they are not applying the sanctions. "If we apply the sanctions to these infractions that the ministries, department and other agencies are cited for, it will go a long way to reduce some of these infractions".

Madam Abena Osei-Asare, the Atiwa East Member of Parliament was however delighted that the works of the Public Accounts Committee is yielding results, stating that the work of the PAC and the support of the Auditor-General resulted in the retrieval of 12.9billion Ghana Cedis.

"Yes, we are making impact, but we can do better that what we are doing now; and that is why we want to ask for support from the media as well because we're all partners in this".

She said all is not lost, and that they will continue to do their best and encourage those who are yet to appear before the Committee to follow the right path.

The Chairperson also commended the Auditors for doing so well as they have been able to bring to the fore issues which in the past were not included in the Auditor-General's Report for attention.