Form anti-graft group to fight corruption - Robert Sarfo Mensah to media

A former Member of Parliament for Asunafo North constituency in the Brong Ahafo region, Robert Sarfo Mensah has called on the media to form an anti-graft group to fight the increasing menace of corruption in the country.

According to him, formation of such a group will help the media constantly wage a crusade against corruption and deter people from engaging in the menace.

“I urge the media to form a strong group against corruption and public sector financial malfeasance,” Mr. Sarfo-Mensah, a former member of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament reiterated.

The former lawmaker made the appeal when he presented a paper on “The Legal Framework Underpinning the Public Account Committee (PAC)” of Parliament at a three-day workshop for the Parliamentary Press Corps in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

The workshop, which was organized by the PAC and sponsored by the GIZ of Germany, was to equip the parliamentary press corps with the necessary skills to report accurately on the public hearings of the PAC.

Mr. Sarfo-Mensah said the recent crusade by the media against illegal mining popularly known as ‘galamsey’ is making an impact, hence the need to wage a similar campaign against corruption in Ghana.

He entreated some members of the press corps to specialise in areas of auditing and also track the activities of the PAC to ensure the public purse is protected.

“The press should be interested in following up and tracking the issues raised by the AG (Auditor-General) in his or her report, and the recommendations adopted by Parliament to its logical conclusion,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PAC will resume its public sittings today Tuesday April 25, 2017 to consider some reports presented by the Auditor-General.

The PAC Chairman, James Avedzi Klutse has indicted that the committee will among others, consider the Bank of Ghana (BoG) foreign exchange receipts and payments.

The rest are disposal of government vehicles by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and drug use in Ghana.

PAC is mandated to examine the audited accounts of public institutions that are laid before parliament.

Accordingly, the PAC, in the quest to involve the public in its work and also to bring governance and accountability to the doorstep of the citizenry, holds public sittings on reports of the Auditor-General on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and Pre-University Institutions at the Regional/District Levels.