GhC1,394,384.98 paid out of Probate, Letters of Administration Deposit account without supporting document

A total of GhC 1,394,384.98 was paid out of the Deposit accounts of Probate and Letters of Administration, General Jurisdiction, and Criminal Courts without relevant supporting documents.

According to the Report, the Registrar of the Probate & Letters of Administration, General Jurisdiction & Criminal Courts, Accra did not provide bank statements and cash books on the United States Dollar and British Pound Sterling accounts for audit review. 

Also the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General paid a judgment debt of GHC 266, 399.00 as compensation in respect of a road accident involving the Ministry’s uninsured Nissan Patrol Vehicle in November 2020.

These are contained in the 2021 Annual Auditor General’s Report for Ministries, Departments, and other Agencies.

Regulation 82 of the Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019(L.I. 2378) stipulates that a payment by a covered entity shall be accompanied by a payment voucher authorized by the Head of accounts and approved by the Principal Spending Officer. 

The Auditor General, therefore, wants the Judicial Secretary to ensure that the Director of Finance provides the documents to the Auditor General for audit, failing which sanctions stipulated in Section 33 of the Audit Service Act shall be applied. 

Also, it has made a recommendation for the Registrar and Head of Accounts of the Probate and Letters of Administration, General Jurisdiction, and Criminal Courts to refund the said amount.

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