Former Member of Parliament for the Kumbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, has intimated that it is right for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to be granted powers to take actions against persons found guilty of misappropriation of state funds.
Speaking in an interview, he noted that PAC has done some good works over the period but lacks some decisive functions. According to him, PAC currently has the power to only subpoena records and witnesses.
“PAC can only force persons who appear before the committee to produce documents and only make recommendations to prosecutors to deal with government officials found guilty of misappropriation of state funds.
“Because the Attorney General’s Department is sometimes overwhelmed, they can’t prosecute these corrupt officials considering the recommendations of PAC and because of this, I agree with calls for PAC to be given the authority to reprimand some offenders”.
Ras Mubarak
PAC recommendations are not implemented
Ras Mubarak revealed that most of the recommendations made by PAC are not implemented and make some of these civil servants go scot-free,
which he described as worrisome. He cited an example of an embezzlement which went unpunished because prosecutors failed to act on recommendations.
“An accountant managed to embezzle funds because of poor checks and balances. He managed to siphon government funds to start a house but fortunately for us, we found him out and PAC gave recommendations on how he should be dealt with. Till now, I don’t know if the prosecutors followed up”.
Ras Mubarak
The former member of PAC further averred that such an offense was a straightforward one which PAC could have taken an action there and then.
“If PAC had the authority, it could have seized the house and sold it to recoup the embezzled funds”.
Ras Mubarak
PAC only recommending punishment frustrating
Ras Mubarak therefore indicated that the challenge of PAC only having the power to recommend punishment is sometimes frustrating, as more public officials get away with embezzling state funds.
“A lot of malfeasance in public institutions are made on the blind side of Ministers but we need to start making examples of people down the ladder so the EOCO and Special Prosecutor can deal with politicians.”
Ras Mubarak
Ras Mubarak stated that PAC’s work would be useless if the loopholes are not blocked.
This appeal stems from Mr. James Avedzi, Chairman of PAC asking that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament needs to be granted the powers to take some immediate actions against persons cited in the Auditor General’s report for misapplying or misappropriating state funds.
Mr. Avedzi, who is also a Member of Parliament for Ketu North, expressed worry about the continued disregard for the public financial management laws.
“So, these are the problems that we have and that is why we have been saying that the PAC should be given some more powers so that we will be able to take action against some of these things to serve as a deterrent to the rest of the people.”
James Avedzi
