PAC recovers nearly GH¢12.7 billion misappropriated public funds

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has disclosed that its oversight work has contributed to the recovery of nearly GH¢12.7 billion in public funds.

According to a graphic.com.gh report on January 15, 2026, the Chairperson of the Committee, Abena Osei-Asare, said the amount was retrieved through collaboration with the Audit Service and the Auditor-General.

She noted that details would be made available to the public when Parliament resumes.

She explained that the PAC’s core mandate is to safeguard public resources, promote transparency and enforce accountability in public financial management.

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According to her, the committee’s work also serves as a deterrent to financial infractions and helps educate citizens on how their tax contributions are utilised.

Osei-Asare encouraged Ghanaians to pay their taxes and actively demand accountability from public officials.

She stressed that citizens have a right to know how public funds are spent and whether any violations have been identified.

“The people of Ghana deserve to know what their hard-earned taxes are used for and whether infractions have been cited,” she indicated.

Osei-Asare expressed confidence that sustained oversight, coupled with sanctions, would lead to a significant reduction in financial misconduct over time.

On the committee’s progress, she disclosed that most of the 2024 Auditor-General’s reports have been concluded, with only two remaining.

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These outstanding reports, she explained, involve audits of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), as well as pre-tertiary and secondary schools, and require visits outside Accra. Plans are underway to embark on regional visits to complete the exercise, she added.

She also called on the public to support efforts to retrieve state funds that remain unaccounted for by officials entrusted with them.

Meanwhile, on Monday, January 12, 2026, the PAC directed the management of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to recover GH¢2,075,214.32 from five staff members who were sponsored to pursue doctoral studies abroad but failed to return to their posts after completing their programmes.

The officers named are Afua Attaa Boakyewaa, Christiana Osei Bonsu, Annshirley Aba Appiaatse, Julius Quarshie Azasoo and Dr Hansen Addy.

The committee further recommended that the matter be reported to Ghanaian missions abroad to aid recovery of the funds, suggesting that consular services such as passport or visa renewals could be denied compelling the defaulters to refund the money.

MRA/AE

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