The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has issued a stark directive concerning the unauthorized spending by officials of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). Following the unsettling revelations in the auditor-general’s report for 2023, the PAC has summoned these officials to face legal action for exceeding their approved budget significantly. This decision comes in light of spending that has surpassed GHC180 million without the necessary approvals.
In its scrutiny, the PAC highlighted at least 13 instances where ECG exceeded its approved budget. Ranking member Samuel Atta-Mills expressed serious concerns during a PAC meeting held on October 28, questioning the rationale behind such financial indiscipline. For instance, while ECG budgeted GHC2.8 million for staff fuel, actual expenditure soared to GHC3.6 million. Similar disparities were noted across various categories including communication, consultancy, and stakeholder engagement, with actual spends reaching as high as GHC58.6 million and GHC49 million.
Mr. Atta-Mills is advocating for stringent accountability measures, emphasizing that financial discipline must be upheld to avoid future deviations. This sentiment was echoed by PAC chair Abena Osei Asare, who stressed the importance of ECG reinforcing its internal financial controls. Ensuring that all expenditures receive proper board authorization is crucial as the organization seeks to navigate this troubling situation and regain public trust.