The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned a former Municipal Finance Officer (MFO) 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 flagged in the Auditor-General’s report.
The matter was raised when the Techiman Municipal Assembly appeared before the Committee in Kumasi on Thursday, April 23, 2026, to respond to audit infractions.
According to the report, the Assembly spent GH₵3.2 million against an approved budget of GH₵1.9 million, resulting in a GH₵1.3 million overrun.
The Committee noted that the explanation given for the excess expenditure, i.e., the introduction of DRIP equipment in September 2024, was not captured in the expenditure list they provided to the auditors.
Chairperson of the Committee, Abena Osei-Asare, questioned the justification, citing inconsistencies in the spending breakdown.
“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.Ghana Investment Report
The Committee has therefore summoned the former MFO to appear and respond to the audit queries.
“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,” Deputy Ranking Member and MP for Keta, Kwame Gakpey cautioned.
