The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has directed the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition to work with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the police to arrest Ms. Yaa Serwaa Gyan, a former staff member who allegedly absconded after taking a fully paid study leave.
According to the Auditor-General’s report, Ms. Gyan was granted a study leave with pay amounting to over GH₵120,000, with the agreement that she would return to serve her bond term.
However, the report revealed that she failed to return and has since vacated her post.
PAC members, visibly displeased, ordered her immediate arrest and repayment of the funds.
“Our checks show that she left the country about more than a year ago… we are told she has gone to the US,” an official from the Energy Ministry responded after queries during the PAC sitting.
The Ranking Member on the Public Accounts Committee, Samuel Atta Mills, insisted that the police and the Foreign Affairs Ministry must be engaged.
“Get the police involved. We cannot; the government cannot pay for people to go for study leave and then when they finish, they abscond. That is not fair,” he said.
He added that the guarantor who signed for her must also be held accountable.
“If you are going to guarantee for somebody, make sure that person is going to pay. That is what we call corruption. It’s not only when you hear ‘corruption’ that it is a politician. Is that man a politician? Is he a member of parliament? Is he a government appointee? Look at what he is doing,” he remarked, directing the police to visit the guarantor’s residence for further action.
The committee has given the ministry 30 days to provide an update on the matter.
Source: Clara Seshie
