The Member of Parliament for South Dayi Constituency, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, has called for stronger measures to curb the misuse of public funds among public officers emphasizing the need for accountability.
He expressed concern about recurring cash irregularities within various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
Speaking on the floor of Parliament today, he revealed that a staggering GHS 57,471,599 has been identified in such irregularities.
Mr. Dafeamekpor pointed to several issues, including unapproved disbursements, un-presented payment vouchers, and unaccounted revenue. He noted that despite the clear provisions of the Public Financial Management Act (PFM Act), public officers continue to disregard laid-down procedures and mishandle public funds.
He also referenced the misuse of COVID funds, where public officers made payments without following proper procedures, including failing to issue receipts. He also pointed to the failure of public officers to account for revenue collected, particularly in markets, where they neglected their duty to return funds despite market women’s complaints.
The MP lamented the lack of action from the Auditor General’s office despite committee referrals over the past two years.
