I have been pleasantly excited about public hearings conducted by the Public Accounts Committee of Ghana’s parliament. Over the past couple of days the Public Accounts Committee has held public hearing on queries raised by the Auditor-Generals’ report for 2004/2005.
Staff of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies have all appeared before the committee to answer queries raised in the report. The public has been overwhelmed by reports of overpayments of contractors, improper award of consultancy services and uncompetitive procurement methods which contributed to the loss of funds running into billions of cedis.
I am excited about the process because it’s the first time ever in Ghana’s history that the work of the committee has been conducted in public, an indication Ghana’s democracy is growing. Financial openness is critical to any democracy consolidation as it enhances public trust in democratic processes and institutions.
Some of the findings of the auditor general report are appalling due to the sheer magnitude of waste in the accounts of some agencies that appear before the committee. You cannot blame opposition politicians who say the corrupt practices exposed at the public hearings are an indictment on the government. After all, the ministries, departments and agencies are managed by government appointees, who should have been more diligent in managing the public purse, entrusted to their care.
Perhaps the findings are also an indication of the expertise and availability qualified people handle the accounts of these ministries, departments and agencies. There is also the need for proper supervision and monitoring in our ministries, departments and agencies if public expenditure is to be safeguarded.
Thankfully, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation has resumed the live coverage of the proceeding of the Public Accounts Committee, the initial, blackout worrying. The public clearly appreciates the work of the committee and if I were in charge of any of the private broadcasting networks, I’ll have given wide coverage to the entire process and not only concentrate on the controversies at the hearing.
Clearly, such public hearings conducted by the Public Accounts Committee of Public will strengthen financial management and accountability in the public sector. However we wait for the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee to parliament and what happens there after.
Comments (1)
Janet,
let me first congratulate you on the good job you are doing by raising pertinent issues in your blog that will not only generate debate but will contribute to strengthening the democracy of Ghana and above all ensure better accountability of the public purse.
I share your excitements regarding the by the Public Accounts Committee of Ghana’s parliament. yes indeed a step in the right direction, one the will not only lead to transparency and accountability in government departments and agencies, but will point to all that takes and spends money or any form of resource in the name of the public to be careful, professional, and open. for me if this kind of public demand for accountability is sustained over a period, Ghana our beloved country will serve as to true blackstar, a shinning example that it is meant to be.
while not discounting the efforts of parlaiment, I believe its long overdue and therefore will want to question what has been happening to our institutions both public and private that perport to serve the interest of the public.
it is not enough to make a few political remarks while people continue to take undue advantage of the system. A way forward in my view will be for Ghana to resource the ministries of public sector reform so that it can critically re-examine the public sector manchinery, come out with a clean diagnosis of the disease killing it and build robust systems that can counter the malicious acts and save tax payers lots of money.
thanks
Posted by Francis Sanyare | November 5, 2007 2:31 PM
Posted on November 5, 2007 14:31