PAC orders prosecution of Wenchi SHS over non-competitive procurement

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday directed the prosecution of the Wenchi Senior High School in the Bono Region for breaching the Public Procurement Act.

The school was indicted in the 2018 Auditor-General’s Report for non-competitive procurement for goods and services.

Accordingly, Mr Twumasi Ampofo, the Headmaster and Mr Joseph Awuah, Accountant are expected to represent the school in Court.

At its sitting in Sunyani, the PAC found the school was culpable for issuing 12 Payment Vouchers amounting to GH¢25,546.25, a breach of the PPA Act 2016 (Act914) as amended.

Mr James Avedzi, the Chairman of the Committee indicated the indictment as contained in the AG’s Report was a breach of section 92 of the procurement Act.

He said if the school was arraigned, the Court would determine those culpable for prosecution.

The Committee also ordered Mr Paul Nsiade, the former Headmaster of the Menji SHS in the Tain District of the Region to submit documentation covering the expenditure of GH¢15,394 with immediate effect.

Though Mr Nsiade was not at the hearing, Mr Joseph Arhin, the current Headmaster of the School could not provide any documentation to account for the spending.

Mr Avedzi asked the Auditor-General to ensure payment into government chest by the former headmaster, if he failed to provide the documents to justify that expenditure.

The PAC has commenced sittings in Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital, and members of the Committee are considering the 2018 Auditor-General’s Report for some Polytechnics in its six-day sitting.

It would also consider the Auditor-General’s Report on the management and utilization of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and the Internally Generated Funds (IGFs) for the same period.

Witnesses were drawn from the Kumasi Technical University and Sunyani Technical University as well as some pre-university educational institutions in Bono, Bono East, Ahafo and Ashanti Regions.