PAC hearing: Segbefia reprimanded over GHC 37,000

Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of parliament today [Friday] reprimanded Health Minister, Alex Segbefia for his inability to recoup over GHC 37,000 from the sale of a vehicle belonging to the Ministry.

The said transaction was done via an auction in 2011, by an auctioneer named Felix Adwajoe.
It however emerged at today’s sitting that the proceeds have not reached the accounts of the ministry.

Agyeman Manu took the Minister on for failing to ensure that due diligence was done in sale of the vehicle.

“The Director General and the Transport Officer should be held liable. Why haven’t you paid the monies all this while? You are suppose to superintend over these matters and this is a clear cut case of financial indiscipline …Have you paid regard to that? That you are a head of an institution and an auctioneer is bold enough to spirit away GHC 37,0125. I am tempted to believe you are caught by the limitation act and for this please you should pay for it and you say you disagree? Minister please you are a lawyer, you need to work on this matter,” Chairman of the Committee, Kweku Agyeman Manu said.

On Thursday, the Transport Minister miraculously disappeared from the hearing of the committee when officials of the Health Ministry struggled to explain why the procurement law was breached in the purchase of the vehicles for the Ministry.

Mr. Hammond reportedly developed a stomach upset during the hearing and could not be found anywhere when officials from the Ministry were answering question from member of the Committee.
Accra Psychiatric Hospital

The Accra Psychiatric Hospital also appeared before PAC for failing to retrieve unearned salaries paid to some individuals.

Mr. Manu ruled that the hospital be given some more time to retrieve the monies.

“Let me give Dr. Penaman Apel the benefit of doubt and we will extend the period of recovery for the next audit so we don’t want to see this outstanding in the next report.”

The Medical Superintendent of the Princess Marie Louise Hospital was also hauled before the committee for not remitting withheld taxes to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

by” CITIFMONLINE.COM