The Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, has issued a stern warning that validation officers who aid or enable the payment of unearned salaries will face the same punishment as the main offenders.
According to her, the Committee has observed that some public officers validate staff without following proper procedures, leading to significant financial losses to the state. Such acts, she said, will no longer go unpunished.
“It is not only the person who receives the unearned salary that should be sanctioned, but also the person who validated the payment,” Hon. Osei-Asare stressed. “The person did not pay himself; someone approved it. In the future, we will recommend that such officers be held equally accountable.”
The PAC Chairperson made these remarks while updating the media on the Committee’s work on the Auditor-General’s reports.
She disclosed that the Committee had completed ten reports, with two or three others partially done and a few more scheduled for next year when Parliament reconvenes.
Hon. Osei-Asare emphasized that the Committee’s approach had been bipartisan, intending to ensure that every public officer accounts for funds entrusted to them for national development.
She revealed that three infractions have so far been officially referred to the Attorney-General’s Office for prosecution, with more expected to follow.
“We are working closely with the Attorney-General to ensure that all referrals are acted upon,” she said. “These are not just sanctions — they are steps to help institutions and officers perform their mandates effectively.”
Touching on recurring cases of unearned salaries, Hon. Osei-Asare acknowledged weaknesses in internal controls across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
She urged stronger collaboration between these entities and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to prevent such occurrences.
“Some institutions reported unearned salaries to the Controller and Accountant-General several times, yet the issue persisted,” she noted. “This calls for broader engagement and stronger internal audits.”
The PAC Chairperson welcomed the recent transfer of the Internal Audit Agency from the Office of the President to the Ministry of Finance, describing it as a step toward greater oversight and accountability.
She also hinted at new reforms in the Committee’s work, proposing that budget approvals for government entities should be tied to their compliance with PAC recommendations.
“When institutions know their budgets depend on addressing audit infractions, they will sit up,” she said. “We are engaging Mr. Speaker and other committees to make this a reality.”
The Honourable Osei-Asare reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to accountability and good governance, promising support for any public institution that seeks to recover funds or prosecute those responsible for financial irregularities, including former public officials.
“Anyone found culpable — whether current or former — must face the law. The courts are there to enforce accountability, and PAC will support such actions,” she added.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com