PAC furious with excuses from Bank of Ghana boss
The Public
Accounts Committee of Parliament is furious with the Governor of Bank of
Ghana (BoG) after refusing to appear before the panel to respond to
some critical issues raised by the Auditor-General against the central
bank in its 2011, 2012 and 2013 audited reports.
The Governor, Dr. Henry Kofi Wampah, was expected to appear in person before the PAC Wednesday but was absent with the excuse that he was attending to some equally important meetings elsewhere.
He instead assigned Millison Narh, a deputy Governor to represent the central bank in responding to the issues raised by the Auditor-General.
PAC was forced to suspend its sitting Tuesday after two officials of the central who appeared before the panel told members that they had no knowledge about the issues they’ve been summoned to respond to.
The officials, Gabriel Bokor, Deputy Chief Manager, Banking Department and Lesley Akron, Assistant Manager, Banking Department, told the Committee that they were only notified to appear before the PAC “this morning” and pleaded that the Committee spares them from further questions.
PAC had summoned Dr. Wampah to appear before it for question and therefore was surprised to see the two officials who had no knowledge about the queries raised by the Auditor-General in its reports about the central bank to respond to the issues.
A senior member of the Committee, Alhaji Abubakari Ibrahim Dey who was not enthused with the response of the Bank of Ghana officials told the panel that it was better to let them go since they were not prepared for the encounter.
He however directed that Dr. Wampah or at least one of his deputies abreast with the queries of the Auditor-General appears before the Committee for question.
But Millison’s presence appeared to have provoked some members of the Committee who insisted of seeing Dr. Wampah instead before they would allow proceedings of the committee to go on.
MP for Atwima Mponua, Isaac Asiamah, who was very critical on the Governor, wondered why the Committee always had to insist before Dr. Wampah appears before the panel.
After back and forth argument over the matter, the Committee suspended sitting for five minutes to enable it take a decision on the issue.
On return, the Chairman discharged the Deputy Governor, Millison Narh, with a further directive for Dr. Wampah to appear before it Thursday.
The Committee further directed that subsequent invitations to the central bank will require the presence of the Governor.
source: kasapaonline
The Governor, Dr. Henry Kofi Wampah, was expected to appear in person before the PAC Wednesday but was absent with the excuse that he was attending to some equally important meetings elsewhere.
He instead assigned Millison Narh, a deputy Governor to represent the central bank in responding to the issues raised by the Auditor-General.
PAC was forced to suspend its sitting Tuesday after two officials of the central who appeared before the panel told members that they had no knowledge about the issues they’ve been summoned to respond to.
The officials, Gabriel Bokor, Deputy Chief Manager, Banking Department and Lesley Akron, Assistant Manager, Banking Department, told the Committee that they were only notified to appear before the PAC “this morning” and pleaded that the Committee spares them from further questions.
PAC had summoned Dr. Wampah to appear before it for question and therefore was surprised to see the two officials who had no knowledge about the queries raised by the Auditor-General in its reports about the central bank to respond to the issues.
A senior member of the Committee, Alhaji Abubakari Ibrahim Dey who was not enthused with the response of the Bank of Ghana officials told the panel that it was better to let them go since they were not prepared for the encounter.
“Chairman, I think they are not prepared. The Governor had the letter inviting him. He can forward it to the appropriate section to work on it before coming here than just come and say you will sit down and listen. No, it is not acceptable. If they are not ready, they should go back”, he noted.After listening to some additional views from the members of the Committee, Chairman of the PAC, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu was left with no option than to suspend the sitting to Wednesday, January 20, 2016.
He however directed that Dr. Wampah or at least one of his deputies abreast with the queries of the Auditor-General appears before the Committee for question.
But Millison’s presence appeared to have provoked some members of the Committee who insisted of seeing Dr. Wampah instead before they would allow proceedings of the committee to go on.
MP for Atwima Mponua, Isaac Asiamah, who was very critical on the Governor, wondered why the Committee always had to insist before Dr. Wampah appears before the panel.
“Why is it that always we have to insist before the Governor appears before this committee? Sitting in public office, he should know the demands and obligations – it is very important. So, Chairman, I believe whatever excuse is given this Committee should not accept it until he appears before us. No other official assignment is more important than the work of Parliament”, he noted.His argument was heavily supported by the MPs for Abuakwa South, Ofoase/Ayerebi and Salaga, Samuel Atta Akyea, David Oppong Kusi and Alhaji Abubakari Ibrahim Dey.
After back and forth argument over the matter, the Committee suspended sitting for five minutes to enable it take a decision on the issue.
On return, the Chairman discharged the Deputy Governor, Millison Narh, with a further directive for Dr. Wampah to appear before it Thursday.
The Committee further directed that subsequent invitations to the central bank will require the presence of the Governor.
source: kasapaonline
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