Parliament Recommends Prosecution

THE PUBLIC Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament is calling for the immediate prosecution and surcharge of a number of public servants following various acts of financial malfeasance against the State.

Additionally, PAC found some public institutions such as the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) culpable of financial impropriety.

These were the findings of PAC on the report of the Auditor-General presented to the House during the last sessions, which PAC Chairman, Samuel Sallas-Mensah presented on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday.

Among the Ministries caught in the web were Tourism and Diasporan Relations; the Interior; Transportation; Foreign Affairs; Regional Integration and NEPAD and Food and Agriculture.

The others are Education, Science and Sports; Health; Finance and Economic Planning; Lands, Forestry and Mines; Trade, Industry, PSI and PSD and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

The rest are the Ministries of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, and Water Resources, Works and Housing as well as the Office of Parliament.

The detailed reports, which cover the 2004 and 2005 financial years, say there was so much evidence of financial impropriety against each of the aforementioned institutions to the extent that they had to be called upon to account for their stewardships.

The Auditor-General reported that as at the end of 2004, various MDAs failed to account for a total amount of ¢226.3bn and US$1.60m. These amounts were in respect of uncollected taxes, cash irregularities, outstanding loans/debts/fees/imprests, payroll and contract irregularities and outstanding staff. As at the time of reporting, an amount of ¢14.92bn and US$1.59m had been accounted for, leaving a balance of ¢223bn and US$15,544.

An approximate figure of ¢26bn of the uncollected taxes were in respect of provisional corporate tax assessment by IRS. In 2005, a total amount of ¢247.8bn and US$217,414.16 was reported outstanding by the Auditor-General in respect of uncollected taxes, cash irregularities, outstanding loans/debts/fees/imprests, payroll irregularities and staff rent arrears. As at the time of reporting, a total of ¢38.3bn and US$84,346.61m had been accounted for, leaving a balance of ¢209.0bn and US$133,068. Out of the outstanding figure of ¢209bn, an amount of ¢125bn represents provisional tax assessments computed by the IRS.

For the first time under the 1992 Republican Constitution, the Public Accounts Committee, which hitherto sat in camera, allowed the media and public to witness its sittings last October.

The shocking revelations which emerged generated so much public debate, with most people calling for the prosecution of the culprits.PAC was the second Committee of Parliament apart from the Appointments Committee, to allow the media and public observe its sittings.

The recommendation of prosecution by the Committee coincided with the establishment of the Financial Administration Tribunals as announced in the House by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Joe Ghartey, last week. By Sylvanus Nana Kumi & Ethel Kangberee