Ghanaian Times Editorial: PAC subpoena Ga South MCE for failing to honour committee’s invitation

The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has subpoenaed the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ga South, Patrick Kwesi Brako Kumor, to appear before it on Tuesday January 21, 2020.

All other assemblies who have been invited by the committee must have their Chief Executive appear in person, the committee further directed.

The order was issued in Parliament, Accra, yesterday following Mr Kumor’s failure to honour the invitation of the committee.

He was scheduled to lead the assembly to respond to reported financial malfeasance at the assembly as captured in the Auditor General’s report on the Utilisation and Management of District Assemblies Common Fund by Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) for the year 2015 and 2016.

But at about 10am yesterday when sitting commenced, it came to light that Mr Kumor had ditched the Parliamentary Committee for the Ghana Results Fair on-going at the Accra International Conference Centre; a facility opposite Parliament.

Being the first to be on the schedule, the committee had to reschedule their engagement with the Ga South Assembly, asking for the MCE to be called to report immediately to Parliament since he was at the fair.

After about an hour when the team from the assembly was recalled, the MCE had still not arrived.

Having been assured by the team that Mr Kumor was on his way from the Conference Centre, the committee proceeded to interrogate the representing officials.

However, after about 20 minutes of interrogation, the MCE had still not arrived to the dismay of committee members.

Chairman of the Committee, James Klutse Avedzi felt disrespected by the MCE and wondered if the journey from the Conference Centre was as far as from Accra to Bolgatanga, the capital of the Upper East Region.

“Where is your MCE?” he asked. “Because Conference Centre to Parliament is not Bolgatanga to Accra.”

Unable to take in his stride the excuses any longer, Mr Avedzi issued the order for the MCE to report in person on Tuesday.

“By the powers vested in this committee under article 103, we are asking that Tuesday he must come with his full team to come and respond to issues.

“All documents supporting or showing that he has properly accounted for the infractions must be brought along.

“By that same power, we are saying that any assembly that has been invited to appear must come with the MCE or the DCE.”

The committee had to postpone sitting on Monday due to the absence of 15 Central Region Assemblies who claimed they had not received any invitation letter.