The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has instructed the Coordinating Director, Finance Officer, and Revenue Superintendent of the Ho Municipal Assembly to jointly refund GH¢138,000 within the next 60 days.
The order came after investigations revealed that 16 revenue collectors failed to pay over GH¢193,000 they had collected into the Assembly’s accounts. So far, authorities have managed to retrieve only GH¢55,000 from the amount involved.
During their appearance before the committee, Finance Officer Peace Adogli Adogah and Internal Auditor Harrison Quashie tried to account for how the money went missing and why it was not deposited as required.
Despite their explanations, the committee’s Ranking Member, Samuel Atta-Mills, maintained that the Coordinating Director, Finance Officer, and Revenue Superintendent should all be held responsible for the lost funds.
According to him, the committee’s recommendation clearly states that the officials involved must be surcharged together, meaning they would all be required to refund the amount.
Meanwhile, James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister, cautioned staff of assemblies cited for financial irregularities, warning that any future breaches highlighted in Auditor-General reports would face severe punishment.