Public Account Committee surcharges Gomoa East Assembly

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, chaired by Ketu North MP James Klutse Avedzi, has ordered the management of the Gomoa East Assembly to be surcharged for failing to present an HP laptop and five boxes of rainboots during an audit inspection.

The audit, which reviewed the Assembly’s 2023 financial records, revealed that an HP laptop purchased in November 2018 for GH₵3,980.00 was issued to the Head of Budget without proper documentation. In addition, five boxes of rainboots, valued at GH₵7,200 and supplied by the Regional Coordinating Council, were found missing.

Speaking at the PAC’s ongoing investigation in Takoradi, Avedzi criticized the Assembly for its lack of accountability, stating that the items must be accounted for. He dismissed the Assembly’s explanation that the missing items had been reported to the police for investigation, emphasizing that such actions rarely yield results.

The Assembly had earlier explained that its stores were not large enough to hold all items, leading them to store some materials within the premises, including the missing rainboots.

Avedzi made it clear that PAC was not satisfied with the Assembly’s handling of the situation and stated, “The Head of Budget will be surcharged for the loss of the laptop, and we expect the items to be paid for within the next two weeks.”

The PAC public hearings, currently taking place in Takoradi, are set to conclude today. The committee has been reviewing various infractions involving Municipal and District Assemblies, Technical Universities, Colleges of Education, and Senior High Schools, as outlined in the 2023 Auditor-General’s report.