PAC member demands prosecution of public funds embezzlers
By Rebecca Okine
Deputy Ranking Member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, has called for the prosecution of individuals found guilty of embezzling state funds, arguing that merely refunding stolen monies is not enough to curb financial malfeasance in the public sector.
His comments come during the ongoing PAC sittings, where government ministries, departments, and agencies are being reviewed for financial irregularities captured in the Auditor-General’s report.
Speaking to the media, Mr Gakpey stressed that financial misappropriation is a criminal act and should be treated as such.
“If the person refunds the money, what is the deterrent?” he questioned.
Mr Gakpey noted: “People may think that at the end of the day, when they embezzle money, all they will be asked to do is refund it. In my personal view, they must be cited for prosecution because it is criminal. Money that belongs to the state cannot be withdrawn and put into someone’s personal account without consequences.”
He emphasised that while his views reflect his personal position, they align with the broader responsibility of the committee to ensure accountability.
“From my personal decision, I would have recommended prosecution, and I am calling for their prosecution,” Mr Gakpey reiterated.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the PAC, Abena Osei-Asare, explained her decision to step aside and allow Ranking Member Samuel Atta Mills to preside over the current proceedings.
She noted that the move was necessary to uphold transparency and accountability, particularly when reports under review concern periods when her party was in power.
“When we were amending the standing orders of Parliament, we agreed that if you are the Public Accounts Committee chairperson and the report pertains to the year your government was in power, you should step aside. This was done to promote transparency, fairness, and accountability. It shows that we are committed to making the public accounts process robust and fit for purpose,” she said.
Mrs Osei-Asare stressed that the adjustment was not only to ensure fairness but also to strengthen public trust in the committee’s work.
“It’s a good thing and reflects our determination to ensure that proceedings represent a true and fair view of how things should be,” she added.
