PAC CRITICISES DCES FOR KRACHIE EAST, WEST (PAGE 12, SEPT 9, 2010)

THE District Chief Executive (DCE) for Krachie East, Mr Raphael Ogyemoko and his counterpart in Krachie West, Mr Moses Ponnye came under severe criticism on Tuesday, for their inability to retrieve varied sums of money which went down the drain before they assumed office.
The money included GH¢100,000 paid to a contractor, GH¢5,100 poverty alleviation fund given out to a number of people, GH¢2,700 misappropriated, GH¢240,000 paid out to contractors without receipts all in Krachie West and GH¢20,900 given out to a construction firm, Kenco Limited in Krachie East for a project not properly executed.
That was when they appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) at its sitting in Koforidua.
The PAC, however, commended the DCE for Nkwanta South, Mr Joseph Mikap, for the prudent measures he took to deal with lapses to ensure financial sanity in his outfit.
Political heads and other senior officials in assemblies in Greater Accra, Eastern and Volta regions were expected to appear before the committee in the event which is being sponsored by GTZ of Germany.
The Chairman of the PAC, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, chastised Messrs Ogyemoko and Ponye for their inability to retrieve the money and said as political heads they had the responsibility to retrieve any public money that had gone down the drain although they were not responsible for the problem.
Mr Kan-Dapaah also expressed PAC’s displeasure at the Finance and Administration Committees in some of the assemblies for not taking prudent measures to ensure good financial management and warned that all those responsible for financial malpractices would be made accountable.
“What went on in the assembly before you took over must be your concern so we expect you to take steps to recover the money which got lost between 2001 and 2009 or thereafter”, Mr Kan Dapaah stated.
Mr Ponny had earlier told the committee that it was difficult for him to get the documents covering some of the money given out and that he would do his best to retrieve them.
With regards to Mr Joseph Micap, the PAC observed that he took the necessary steps to address all inherent financial lapses within his outfit and praised him for his efforts which according to the PAC must be emulated by other metropolitan/municipal/district chief executives.
MDCEs and supporting staff from Nkwanta South, Hohoe, North Tongu, South Tongu, Jasikan, Keta, Ketu districts and municipalities also appeared before the committee.
Earlier, Mr Kan-Dapaah told the gathering that the PAC would not carry out its duty in a partisan manner and that those appearing before it were not on trial but helping to account for public funds, adding that those found culpable would have to be responsible for their misdeeds.
For his part, the Ranking Member of the Committee, Alhaji Amadu Seidu, said the PAC would not tolerate financial malfeasance within the assemblies and that they should submit their audited accounts to the relevant authorities on time.
In his welcoming address, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Baba Jamal Muhamed Ahmed, said internal audit units had been established for all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies and asked the assemblies to involve them in whatever they would do to improve the quality of financial management.
He also advised the assemblies to step up efforts and mechanisms to increase internally generated revenue to complement funds from the Central government and donor agencies. Sitting continues.