Parliament is tightening the reins on public sector accountability, as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) moves to hand over 12 institutions to the Attorney General for prosecution after they failed to comply with orders to recover state funds.
The PAC acted after the affected institutions, including two major public hospitals, ignored a 30-day directive to retrieve monies flagged in the Auditor-General’s report. JoyNews correspondent James Avedzi reported that the committee, during its November 3 sitting, stood firm on its decision.
Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem MP and PAC Ranking Member, Samuel Atta-Mills, made it clear that refusal to obey the committee’s directive leaves no option but prosecution.
He stressed that although some institutions were given 60 and 90 days, those who breached the initial ultimatum must now face legal consequences.
Assistant Auditor-General Michael Addo told the committee that the institutions failed to recover funds lost through unearned salaries, unretired imprest, and questionable expenditure, triggering the constitutional provision for referral to the Attorney General.
The amounts involved are expected to run into tens of millions of cedis.
Facilities like Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Ridge Hospital are part of the list submitted to the Attorney General.
The decision underscores Parliament’s resolve to ensure audit findings translate into legal action where required, reinforcing compliance with the Public Financial Management Act and protecting the public purse.
The Attorney General’s office is now expected to review the evidence and begin the process of filing charges against culpable officials.
