The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), James Klutse Avedzi, has issued a stern directive to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to recover all illegal payments made to employees who have vacated their posts but continue to receive salaries.
This directive, delivered during a Public Accounts sitting at Parliament House, gives the MoH and GHS a three-month ultimatum to rectify the situation.
In response to the audit findings, the PAC ordered the MoH and GHS to recover all unauthorized payments made to employees who have left their positions but continue to receive salaries.
The committee emphasized that all recovered funds should be deposited into the Auditor-General Recovery Accounts at the Bank of Ghana within a three-month period.
Furthermore, the Director General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, was advised to monitor closely the actions of his staff, particularly those who frequently request leaves and fail to resume work afterward.
The Auditor-General’s report brought to light a series of irregularities, including instances where nurses applied for study or annual leave, traveled abroad and did not return to their posts. Additionally, some nurses transitioned into different career paths post-studies.
The report also highlighted cases of uncollected rent charges for staff and unserved bond periods, which were approved by the GHS administrators despite not being collected. These findings prompted the PAC chairman to demand the immediate recovery of these funds.
Ministry of Health Seeks Extension for Rent Recovery
The Ministry of Health requested a six-month extension to recover approximately 100,000 cedis from 19 employees who defaulted on rent payments in 2022. These staff members were provided official accommodation at Korle Bu and Asylum Down Flats but failed to pay their rent.
The MoH attributed the payment defaults to the failure of the Financial Controller of the Ministry of Finance to submit the required input forms.
“Honourable please, we are still in the process. Because we have put a system in place that going forward the rent will be deducted, we have a draft payment plan for them to recover the remaining beyond the 11,000 that has been settled. Honourable please, it won’t go more than six months.”
Emma Ofori Agyemang, MoH Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has referred the case involving Joy Gyaten, a driver who failed to deliver a consignment of condoms to the Eastern Regional Medical Stores in 2022, to the police for further investigation. The goods, approximately three million condoms, and other contraceptives are valued at 1.3 million cedis.
According to Emma Ofori Agyemang, the incident was reported to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the driver was initially arrested but later bailed.
Mrs. Agyemang explained that the driver suffered a stroke and was ill, but the ministry is currently collaborating with the CID to ensure a thorough investigation of the case. The docket is currently with the Attorney General’s office, and the ministry is awaiting a response.
The recent developments underscore the need for stringent financial oversight and accountability within Ghana’s health sector. The actions taken by the PAC and the subsequent responses from the MoH and GHS signal a commitment to addressing these issues.
However, the extended timeline for rent recovery and the ongoing investigation into the missing condoms highlight the challenges faced in ensuring transparency and accountability in public finance management.
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