PAC summons former Techiman Finance Officer over GH₵1.3million budget overrun

Chairperson of PAC, Abena Osei-Asare

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned a former Municipal Finance Officer of the Techiman Municipal Assembly, Alhaji Kasimu Ashagu, now with the Ministry of Energy, to appear before it over a GH₵1.3 million expenditure overrun cited in the Auditor General’s report.

The issue came up when the Techiman Municipal Assembly appeared before the Committee in Kumasi on Thursday, April 23, 2026, to respond to audit findings.

According to the report, the Assembly spent GH₵3.2 million against an approved budget of GH₵1.9 million, resulting in an excess expenditure of GH₵1.3 million.

The Committee indicated that the explanation provided for the overrun, which cited the introduction of DRIP equipment in September 2024, was not reflected in the expenditure records submitted to auditors.

Chairperson of the Committee, Abena Osei-Asare, questioned the justification, pointing to discrepancies in the breakdown of spending.

“You were asked why you encountered these overruns and the answer they gave to the auditors was that it was occasioned by the introduction of the DRIP equipment in September 2024. In the line of expenditure, there is nowhere an item describes the use of a DRIP as the cost of an overrun.

“You have printed material and stationery. You even have official celebration where you budgeted to spend GH₵117,000 but ended up spending GH₵305,000. You budgeted GH₵305,000 for donation, you ended up spending GH₵339,000. Where is the DRIP expenditure? Clearly we would want the officer to come and tell the people of Ghana why this infraction occurred,” she stated.

The Committee has therefore directed the former MFO to appear before it to respond to the audit queries.

Deputy Ranking Member and Member of Parliament for Keta, Kwame Gakpey, warned that the Committee could compel his attendance if necessary.

“This committee has the powers of the High Court and we can subpoena him if he refuses to come. That is a note of caution to him. He should do the needful,” he cautioned.