The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has directed the Office of the Head of the Civil Service (OHCS) to refund GH¢175,000 within 30 days into the recovery accounts of the Auditor-General (AG). This follows the OHCS’s failure to provide payment vouchers covering the said amount during the 2024 audit.
During its sitting last Tuesday, the PAC, chaired by Abena Osei-Asare, emphasized that failure to provide documentation was a recurring issue in OHCS audits. She stressed the need for immediate reforms to ensure compliance and prevent future infractions.
“Failure to show documentation runs through all the infractions you have been cited for,” Mrs. Osei-Asare said.
The PAC insisted that the GH¢175,000 must be refunded, citing long-established accountability protocols, despite OHCS later presenting partial acquittals without the required supporting documents.
The PAC session examined the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report, which flagged multiple irregularities within OHCS institutions, including:
- Civil Service Training Centre
- Government Secretariat School
- Institute of Technical Supervision
- Management Services Department
- Procurement & Supply Chain Management Department
- Public Records and Archives Administration Department (PRAAD)
The OHCS delegation was led by Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh (Head of Civil Service) with support from Chief Director William Kartey.
The Auditor-General’s Report also cited Kafui Kofi Kpokpo, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, for embezzling over €40,000 meant for tax, social security, and health insurance deductions from local staff salaries.
- Mr. Kpokpo has so far refunded €31,624.95, leaving a balance of €8,086.31.
- Disciplinary action included demotion, suspension, and an order to complete repayment.
- The Chief Director, Ramses Joseph Cleland, confirmed that stricter monitoring and internal audits have been introduced to prevent similar incidents.
Some PAC members, including NDC MP for Keta, Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, pushed for prosecution of the implicated official to strengthen deterrence.
To safeguard public funds, the PAC urged:
- Enhanced training and retraining of civil and foreign service officers.
- Increased internal audit budgets for early detection of irregularities.
- Regular monitoring and video checks on overseas missions.
The committee reiterated that accountability and transparency remain critical to ensuring that taxpayer resources serve their intended purpose.
The PAC’s firm directive against OHCS and the recovery measures at the Foreign Affairs Ministry underscore Parliament’s commitment to tackling financial mismanagement. With ongoing calls for prosecution, the pressure is mounting on public institutions to uphold integrity, transparency, and accountability.
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