PAC suggests prosecution of Tamale Technical University officials over procurement infractions

The Committee’s sitting in Tamale is to consider the 2019 Auditor General’s Report on Pre-Universities in the Northern, North East, Upper East, Upper West, and the Savannah Regions.

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The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Tuesday recommended that the Attorney-General prosecutes officials at the Tamale Technical University over the uncompetitive purchase of furniture. 

Management of the Tamale Technical University was cited in the 2019 Auditor Generals Report to have received three invoices from different suppliers for the procurement of furniture worth GHC17,300. The report also indicated that two of the invoices had the same telephone numbers.

The school’s authorities were found to have failed to monitor procurement activities that would ensure transparency, fair competition, and value for money – hence breaching section 20 of the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act, 2016.

Speaking to reporters, James Klutse Avedzi, Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Minority Leader, said the Committee would not only warn officials who appeared before them but would also suggest prosecution for those found to have breached procurement procedures.

“Because Parliament did not ensure that procurement issues are dealt with in the past, they think that it is just a normal thing to appear before the PAC to be warned and that’s all.”

The Committee’s sitting in Tamale is to consider the 2019 Auditor General’s Report on Pre-Universities in the Northern, North East, Upper East, Upper West, and the Savannah Regions. The six-day sitting will consider infractions cited by the Auditor General in its 2019 Reports.

“The 2019 report cited eight Pre-Universities and two Technical Universities for irregularities related to outstanding loans, and staff debtors, cash irregularities, misapplication of funds, non-retirement of imprest, unapproved expenditures and non-payment of internally generated funds into the Consolidated Fund, and payroll irregularities, among others,” Parliament said on its Facebook page.

They will also interrogate the Report of the Auditor General on the management and utilization of the District Assemblies Common Fund and other statutory funds For the year ended, 31st December 2019.

Institutions that appeared before the Committee yesterday included the Tamale Technical University in the Northern Region, Bolgatanga Technical University in the Upper East, and Wa Technical University in the Upper West Region.