The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has commenced sitting in Tamale to consider the 2019 Auditor General’s Report on Pre-Universities in the Northern, North East, Upper East, Upper West and the Savana Regions.
The six-day sitting will consider infractions cited by the Auditor General in its 2019 reports.
The 2019 report cited 8 Pre-Universities and the 2 Polytechnics in GH¢8,094,230 irregularities related to outstanding loans, and staff debtors, Cash Irregularities of GH¢7,925,991.13 for misapplication of funds, non-retirement of imprest, unapproved expenditures and non-payment of Internally Generated Funds into the Consolidated Fund and Payroll Irregularities of GH¢262,571.
Procurement Irregularities of GH¢48,960,038 for intentional disregard for the Procurement Act, management’s inability to comply fully with the procurement law, improper procurement planning and a breakdown of the procurement process.
It also cited Tax Irregularities of GH¢23,242 by Finance Officers not diligently acting in accordance with the statutory tax laws, Stores Irregularities of GH¢3,240 for absence of effective stock and Contract irregularities of GH¢105,345,171 for unjustified review of the contract process.
Institutions that appeared before the committee yesterday included the Tamale Technical University in the Northern Region, Bolgatanga Polytechnic in the Upper East and Wa Polytechnic in the Upper West
The Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr James Klutse, at the sitting expressed worries about how Public Institutions delayed in responding to requests made by other institutions to help them do their work.
He also urged Public Institutions to ensure that they work in accordance with the Public Procurement Laws and the Financial Management Acts to avoid violating the laws that could result into sanctions.
The PAC will also interrogate irregularities cited by the Auditor General’s report for Pre-University Education Institutions in Ghana such as EP College of Education in the Northern Region, McCoy College of Education in the Upper West Region on Friday August 12, 2022.
FROM TIMES REPORTER, TAMALE
