The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has directed the Sunyani West District Assembly to refund a total of GH₵116,000 identified as illegal payments during its review of the Auditor-General’s report.
The directive was issued during the committee’s ongoing public sittings, where officials of the assembly were queried over financial irregularities uncovered in the audit. The disallowed amount is said to have been paid out without proper authorization and in breach of established public financial management regulations.
Members of the committee expressed concern over the assembly’s failure to adhere to laid-down procedures, stressing that public funds must be managed with transparency and accountability. They warned that such lapses undermine public trust and could attract further sanctions if not corrected.
Officials of the Sunyani West District Assembly, who appeared before the committee, were unable to provide satisfactory explanations for the payments. As a result, the PAC ordered that the full amount be recovered and paid back into the state’s coffers without delay.
The committee emphasized that heads of institutions and financial officers will be held personally liable for irregular expenditures, in line with the law. It also urged all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to strictly comply with financial regulations to avoid similar infractions.
The Public Accounts Committee continues its nationwide hearings aimed at ensuring accountability in the use of public funds, as part of efforts to promote good governance and fiscal discipline.
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