UEW referred to Attorney General over GH₵28m honorarium payment
The directive was issued following Wednesday’s PAC sitting, which reviewed the 2024 financial statements of public universities and found significant financial irregularities in UEW’s accounts.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has referred the management of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) to the Attorney General for possible prosecution after the institution paid GH₵28 million in honorarium without proof of work done.
The directive was issued following Wednesday’s PAC sitting, which reviewed the 2024 financial statements of public universities and found significant financial irregularities in UEW’s accounts.
The Committee revealed that UEW disbursed the GH₵28 million from its budget allocation without clear justification or supporting documentation.
Despite the establishment of an internal disciplinary board and a council directive ordering recovery of the funds, no amount has been retrieved more than a year after the internal probe.
He added that the university had sought assistance from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to recover the amount, but efforts had so far proved futile.
UEW’s Finance Officer, Mr. Senyo Akorli, questioned the intent of the disciplinary process, asking whether it was designed merely to punish those involved or to ensure financial restitution.
The Vice-Chancellor responded that both disciplinary action and recovery were expected outcomes, but the lack of compliance by those implicated necessitated EOCO’s intervention.
Unsatisfied with the university’s explanation, the PAC resolved to escalate the matter, referring it to the Attorney General’s Department for potential criminal prosecution.
