The 2017 audit examination of the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, revealed that essential records have not been maintained.
The report indicated that rules and procedures applied were not sufficient to safeguard and control public property, programmes and activities have been undertaken without due regard to efficiency and effectiveness in relation to the resources.
Deputy Minister Osei Bonsu Amoah who deputised for the sector Minister Dan Botwe had a hectic time explaining why the Births and Deaths Registry failed to issue official receipts totalling GHS 304,300 in breach of FAR 2004 which requires public officers who receive public funds to issue official receipts and pay same into relevant Public Funds Accounts.
Officials of the Ministry could not satisfactorily explain why a total imprest of GHS 46,833.16 granted the Regional Community Development Director at Bolgatanga on three separate payment vouchers for the orientation of Research Assistants and Monitoring during the period under review was also not retired.
However, the Committee absolved the Ministry from queries raised by the Auditor-General in respect of unsupported payments vouchers and rent defaulters totalling GHS 114,220 at Cape Coast Regional Co-ordinating Council and outstanding debts at the Department of Rural Housing at Sekondi.
The Committee found out these two Departments which were inadvertently reported under the Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development Ministry by the Auditor-General actually under the ambit of the Ministry of Works and Housing.
