Jirapa GES accountant ordered to retrieve GHC11K unearned salary or be surcharged

An accountant of the Ghana Education Service at Jirapa Municipal Assembly, Keystone Kakabang has been ordered by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to retrieve all unearned salaries paid to one Thomas Dakura Aquinas or be surcharged.

A report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana Ministries, departments and other agencies for the year 2016 revealed that Mr. Thomas Dakura, who used to be a teacher at Jirapa received an unearned salary from August 2015 to May 2016 totalling about GHC11, 326 after he vacated his post.

Following a question by the Ranking Member of the Committee; Kofi Okyere-Agyekum seeking to ascertain why Mr. Dakura received an unearned salary and why the money has still not been retrieved, the accountant who looked visibly troubled and confused said a letter has been written to Mr. Dakura to refund the money and a response is yet to be received.

The accountant who however could not provide a copy of the letter to the committee when asked explained that he was unaware it would be required of him to present a copy hence he left it at his office in Jirapa.

The Chairperson of the Committee, James Klutse Avedzi who wasn’t satisfied with the accountant’s response consequently directed him to furnish the committee with the written letter or be asked to refund the money with interest.

The Public Account Committee Sitting began its sitting on Tuesday March 13, 2019 in accordance with Standing Order 165 of Parliament which assigns it to examine audited accounts showing the appropriation of funds granted by Parliament to the government.

In the wisdom of Parliament, the PAC is one of the only two committees of the House chaired by a member from the minority side of the Legislative body. This is to deepen the mandate of the committee in scrutinising properly, the audited accounts of government institutions.