Hon. James Klutse Avedzi, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has imposed a surcharge on Yilo Krobo Assembly due to missing funds identified during an audit.
The investigation uncovered discrepancies related to two missing valued books and collectors, prompting the Assembly’s management to report the issue to the police. However, the absence of the former collectors has hindered tracing efforts.
In response, the PAC has required the Revenue Superintendent, Coordinating Director, and a retired Finance Officer to repay the missing funds within two months.
During a recent hearing in Ho, Mr. Avedzi stressed that the Committee will no longer accept mere reports of missing Joint Cash Receipts (JCRs) and market tickets to the police, as these actions rarely lead to resolution.
“We need to move beyond just reporting these incidents, as it has become clear that such reports often go unresolved,” he stated.
His remarks were made as various Assemblies, Municipal, Metropolitan bodies, and Senior High Schools from the Eastern Region appeared before the PAC, following citations in the Auditor-General’s 2023 report.
Mr. Avedzi issued a firm warning to institutions that fail to rectify issues highlighted in their audit reports, expressing concern that such reports might be manipulated by revenue collectors to evade accountability.