The Public Accounts Committee at its sitting on Wednesday, 7th February, 2024 has directed the National Identification Authourity (NIA) boss, Prof. Kenneth Attafuah, and his Financial Controller to reimburse an amount of GHS98, 000 used by the Authority to settle its debt owed to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
The NIA, having consistently failed to ensure timely payment of SSNIT contributions, was charged a penalty of GHS98K, forcing the leadership of the Authority to dip their hands deep in the coffers of the NIA to pay the debt.
According to the Auditor General, Prof. Ken Attafuah and the Financial Controller, are directly responsible for the debt and recommended they pay themselves to save the state money.
Accordingly, the Auditor General’s proposal was accepted and the two were ordered by the Chairperson of the Committee, James Klutse Avedzi, to refund the money within one month.
“The recommendation states that you must repay the money, and it should be retrieved from both the Chief Executive and the Financial Controller. While you have explained the reasons for not paying the withheld money to SSNIT, the committee finds your explanation unacceptable.
“Therefore, the Auditor General’s recommendation stands: the Chief Executive and the Financial Controller must refund the money to the recovery account of the Auditor General within one month”.
James Klutse Avedzi
The Auditor General was then charged to ensure compliance with the directive and update the Public Accounts Committee.
Public Accounts Committee Bemoans The Alleged Mess At National Sports Authority.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), James Klutse Avedzi, has lamented on the rot, corruption and misconduct of personnels working with or under Prof. Peter Twumasi’s, National Sports Authority.
Mr. Avedzi recommended for an immediate probe by the Auditor General into the affairs of the National Sports Authority, pending the Committee’s final report.
“We will recommend in our report but I think you should recommend this to the Auditor General himself immediately. There is a need for a special audit of the National Sports Authority. I want to make a recommendation which will be put in the report. Listening to what is happening here, I think the place is in a mess”.
James Klutse Avedzi
The Public Accounts Committee also ordered for the arrest of the Nothern Regional Director of the National Sports Authority for his failure to deposit over GHS160K into the Consolidated Fund Transit Account of the Authority.
Other members of the committee namely, Samuel Atta Mills and Samuel Nartey George equally expressed their dismay at the conduct of the National Sports Authority boss and other regional directors on their blatant disregard for the Sector Minister, Mustapha Yusif.
The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, alleged thievery, loots and misappropriation of funds at the Authority .
“You know, there is the issue of the NSA vehicle that is outstanding. Just listen to the chronology of the events and make your conclusion. The NSA always parks its vehicles in Kumasi at the Sports Hotel which is part of the Kumasi Sports Stadium. Very close to it.
“The new director comes in, a brand-new pick up is bought. He gets to Kumasi with his driver and says I don’t want you to park at the Sports Hotel. Go and park at a new hotel. The vehicle is parked at the new hotel, that very night, there is a robbery at the hotel and the only thing that is stolen is the pickup”.
Samuel Nartey George
The matter which was of great concern to Mr Sam George is that fees charged for use of the various stadia in December of last year are yet to be paid into the Authority’s known account.
He added that the conduct of the Director General is abhorring and would not be countenanced in any other jurisdiction unless the government of the day is solidly behind him.
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