PAC uncovers more rot at Assemblies
From Alfred Adams, T’di
Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central Regional Minister
THE Public Account Committee of Parliament (PAC) has exposed financial irregularities at the various District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies (MMDCES) in the Western and Central regions.
The committee, which sat in Takoradi yesterday, examined the accounts of the various assemblies, spanning from the period of 200 to 2004, after it had been audited.
First to appear was the Central Regional Coordinating Council, which failed to properly account for ¢293.8 million from the Common Fund. Another ¢247milllion which was used for sole sourcing of equipment, contrary to the Public Procurement Act (PPA), could also not be properly accounted for.
This compelled the acting chairman of the Committee, Hon. Kwaku Agyeman Manu to seek answers from the Regional Minister, Ms. Ama Benyiwa Doe. In her explanation, the Minister admitted the error but explained that the ¢293.8 million was used to cater for security officials.
But when the committee probed why the Minister and her team failed to offer the above answer in their response to the Audit report, they could not offer any tangible explanation.
The Chairman subsequently advised the Coordinating Director to put a cover, not in their response to the Auditor General, of how the above money was expended on the security.
On the sole sourcing of procurement which the committee faulted the RCC for doing, contrary to the PPA, the Minister and her team answered that they were unaware of the amount involved and that it was news to them.
The Minister and her team further explained that since they were not in office at that time, they could not offer any tangible answer, but would re-check.
Next to appear before the committee was the Sefwi Wiawso District Assembly, which was also faulted for failing to account for ¢1.6billion as a result of contract and procurement irregularities. The Assembly also failed to pay the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) a total sum of ¢93.4 million withholding tax, after they had deducted it from their accounts.
When the DCE, Mr. S. W. Mensah was asked to explain the reason behind it, he said the Assembly was taking steps to pay the IRS, though it disagreed with some of the computations.
The Juabeso Assembly also could not properly account for non-receipt of ¢3.2billion in HIPC and Common Fund money. The Assembly also could not retrieve a total of ¢39 million capital over paid to contractors who undertook various Assembly projects.
When the DCE, Solomon Fuakye attention was drawn to the error, he admitted it and assured the PAC that the Assembly was taking steps to retrieve the said figure from the contractors.
The Aowin Suaman Assembly was also drilled on the whereabouts of ¢1.3billion.
The assembly also failed to collect ¢50.9 million of poverty alleviation fund distributed among beneficiaries. The Assembly also sat unconcerned as two consultancy firms duped the state to the tune of ¢50million in taxes.
The Chairman, therefore, gave the Assembly a month ultimatum to pay the said figure into government chest. He warned that if the Assembly fails to recover the said money, it might lose its share of the Common Fund beginning from January 2011.
Addressing the officials of the various assemblies earlier, the Chairman told them that the exercise was not a witch-hunt, but rather one that ensures that there was transparency and accountability.
Short URL: http://ghanaian-chronicle.com/?p=5817