The former District Finance Officer of Sefwi Akontombra District Assembly, Mr Isaac Akowuah and the Current District Finance Officer, Mr James Esilfie were arrested today by Police Officers of the Parliamentary Police Protection Unit upon the order of the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, James Avedzi.
Mr Isaac Akowuah and Mr James Esilfie were arrested for presenting to the PAC 9 payment vouchers which did not tally with the payment vouchers before the PAC.
It would be recalled that the Sefwi Akontombra District appeared before the Committee last week to respond to queries contained in the 2015 and 2016 reports of the Auditor-General on the utilisation of the District Assemblies Common Fund.
However, officials of the Assembly could not produce 62 payment vouchers amounting to one hundred and twenty six thousand Ghana cedis (Ghc 126,000.00 ).
The Assembly was therefore asked to reappear before the Committee today and produce the 62 payment vouchers.
When the DCE of Sefwi Akontombra, Hon Amoah Yawson led officials of the Assembly to the PAC hearing today, Mr Isaac Akowuah and Mr James Esilfie produced nine payment vouchers amounting to one hundred and twenty thousand Ghana cedis (Ghc 120,000. 00 ) to the committee out of the 62 payment vouchers the Committee was expecting.
When the Committee scrutinized the nine payment vouchers, it realized that the payment vouchers did not tally with the documents before the Committee hence the directive by James Avedzi for the arrest of the two officials.
The PAC law has the powers of High court and can therefore cause the arrest of Public Officials who lie before the Committee or flout its directives.
Source: Emmanuel Akorli/ Peace FM Parliamentary Correspondent
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Why should it take the Auditor General and PAC that long to address issues relating as far back as 2016 in 2020. The AG should be up and doing its audit plans, execution and reporting. This buga buga approach will not eradicate the perceived corruption.
IT IS ONLY PAC THAT I TRUST IN GHANA NOW. THEY ARE SURE A ROBUST IN THEIR DEALINGS. SUPPOSING EVERY DEPARTMENT INCLUDING THE PRESIDENCY SHOULD WORK LIKE THIS, GHANA WOULD BE HEALED. GOD BLESS THE CURRENT ACTORS, BUT 2020 WE GO SHOW NANA
All thanks to PAC.. this is the way to go in order to prevent unnecessary spending of state monies and fraudulent activities..@ Tonga..the issue is...have they spend those monies...if so produce payment vouchers to cover the expenditures...so if u cant produce payment vouchers to cover the expenditures that you have made....what does it mean?
Corrupt activities in 2016 are being trumpeted in 2020 to fuel the perception that corruption has increased under the present Government. The Chairman of the PAC is really overreacting. He should listen to explanations. He should bow down his head in shame.