By Seraphine Nyuiemedi
Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), James Klutse Avedzi, has revealed key findings from the latest public hearing, currently ongoing in Ho, the Volta Regional capital. The hearing, held on Tuesday, focused on the financial management of Technical Universities and District Assemblies in the Oti region.
Mr. Avedzi said the session primarily examined the financial activities of Technical Universities in Accra, Koforidua, and Ho, as well as colleges of education from the Greater Accra, Eastern, and Volta regions. The Committee also reviewed the operations of four District Assemblies from the Oti region.
Speaking to the media after the hearing, Mr. Avedzi, who is the member of parliament for Ketu North, noted that while it was too early to make a full assessment of the assemblies’ performance, some irregularities were already evident in the Oti region.
The infractions observed included unaccounted revenue and fuel issues, which, although common, appear to have decreased in frequency compared to previous years. A recurring concern for the PAC, Avedzi said, was the issue of lecturers from universities who are sponsored by the government to pursue PhD programs abroad. Despite receiving government support, including salary payments during their studies, many lecturers fail to return to serve in Ghana after completing their programs.
“Government spends money to train them, pay their salaries during their course of study, and at the end, government expects them to come back and serve, but you see them remaining in the various countries of study without coming back,” Avedzi lamented.
To address this issue, the PAC has urged university management to strengthen the guarantor system so that those who do not return are held accountable, and their guarantors are made to refund the money spent by the government. The Committee also flagged other ongoing issues, including unearned salaries where employees who vacate their posts or pass away remain on the payroll and cases of double salary payments.
The hearing in Ho is set to continue throughout the week, with Avedzi expressing hope that the infractions identified during Tuesday’s session would not be mirrored in the assemblies scheduled for review later in the week.