Lack of sanctions increasing public sector corruption - Manu

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Hon. Kweku Agyemang Manu says lack of sanctions against public sector workers cited for various financial crimes has worsened the situation.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Dormaa Central, said embezzlement at the various public sectors in the country is reoccurring because persons cited for these crimes are not prosecuted and until government shows the political will, the situation will still persist.

The legislator in an interview with Kwame Tutu said, the problem the country faces today is not because we do not have laws to deal with persons cited for the offences but lack of political will of government in power to crack the whip.

Hon. Kweku Agyemang Manu posited that, government has failed in retrieving monies from some persons cited for various financial crimes which affirms its unwillingness to prove to Ghanaians that, it abhors corruption.

According to him, President Mahama's commitment towards the fight against corruption is nothing to write home about and has deepened our woes. He noted, Ghana needs a leader with the commitment of sanctioning or prosecuting people cited for corruption.

"Our laws are working but we need an extra ordinary leader with the commitment of fighting corruption head on. We have politicians but it is not every politician or leader who fight corruption and until we get a firm leader, we will still encounter financial crimes in public sector," Hon. Agyemang Manu told Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio.

His comments follows some revelations in the Auditors General's report for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 financial year at the various public sectors.

PAC has ordered one MB Alhassan, a civil servant to return a 4X4 Nissan Patrol vehicle belonging to the Local Government Service Secretariat which is still in his possession after his service.

Mr. Alhassan was assigned the vehicle for official use when he was transferred to the Secretariat four years ago but took it away for his personal use after leaving office.

According to Mr. Alhassan the vehicle is grounded at a fitting shop in Tamale but he's being ordered to repair and return the vehicle with immediate effect. PAC has ordered him to pay the Secretariat for denying them the use of the vehicle over the past four years.

The committee also ordered the arrest of one Mr. Sarfo a former regional accountant the Central Regional Birth and Death Registry to account for an amount of GHC 54, 44-being revenue collected on behalf of the registry in 2013.

The Public Works Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly failed to provide receipts covering an amount of GHC 1,059,659 in respect of building permits and penalties.

Officials are to appear before the committee on Monday to prove that the receipts are available or be ordered to refund the money to the state.