The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed that officials of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) responsible for unauthorised expenditures amounting to over GH₵180 million in 2023 be referred to the Attorney General for prosecution.
The order follows revelations in the 2023 Auditor-General’s Report, which uncovered that ECG had exceeded its approved budgets across at least 13 expenditure items without obtaining prior approval from its governing board.
According to the report, ECG’s approved budgets included GH₵2.8 million for staff fuel, GH₵4.2 million for communication, GH₵40 million for consultancy, and GH₵3.1 million for stakeholder engagement. However, actual spending in these categories ballooned to GH₵3.6 million, GH₵7.9 million, GH₵58.6 million, and GH₵49 million, respectively all without board authorisation.
Expressing outrage, a member of the Committee, Mr. Atta-Mills, questioned the justification for the overspending. “Staff fuel did they drive around the world? You budgeted GH₵2.8 million and spent GH₵3.6 million. Communication expenses GH₵4.2 million approved, GH₵7.9 million spent. Consultancy GH₵40 million approved, GH₵58.6 million used. Stakeholder engagement from GH₵3.1 million to GH₵49 million. And yet, they are pushing for tariff increases?” he lamented.
He urged that those responsible face prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others.
PAC Chairperson, Abena Osei Asare, also called on ECG to strengthen its internal control systems and ensure that all future expenditures receive proper board approval before implementation.
