The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed Ghana’s Ambassador to Israel, H. E. Hannah Nyarko, to refund an amount of US$13,619 dollars spent on the celebration of Ghana’s 62nd Independence Anniversary in 2019.
The amount was used without approval but subsequently, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration gave retrospective approval for the expenditure two years later.
The Committee, however, rejected this explanation and charged the Tel Aviv Head of Mission to refund the money.
According to the 2020 Auditor General’s Report, the Ministry by Circular No GM/38 of 11 February 2019 gave approval and budget ceilings for specific Missions to celebrate Ghana’s 62nd Independence Anniversary, which excluded the Tel Aviv Mission.
The Mission incurred a total amount of US$28,618.75 on the celebration without approval, which occasioned an over expenditure of US$13,618.75 for the activity.
The Auditor General, therefore, recommended the Ministry recover the balance from H. E. Hannah Nyarko.
At the Committee sitting on Friday, January 20, Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ramses Joseph Cleland, however, explained the issue for the retrospective approval for the Tel Aviv expenditure came up when they were checking the workings of all the Missions.
He noted these things come up sometimes because going through the requests and accounts of all 66 missions takes time.
Chairman of the Committee Hon. James Klutse Avedzi, however, rejected the explanation and indicated the second retrospective approval was sought and granted on 21 march 2022, only after the 2020 Auditor General’s Report had indicted the Tel Aviv Head of Mission.
He said, “We will not accept this approval. It is because of the audit report that you quickly gave that approval. The money should be refunded by whoever was in charge at that time.”
“H.E. Hannah Nyarko should refund the US$13,619.”
The Chairman explained that all missions are required to get approval from the Foreign Ministry before they can spend just like the government requires approval of Parliament through the Appropriation Act to spend.
He stated that writing off this money will only open the floodgates for missions to spend anyhow without approval and then run to the Ministry for retrospective approval.
In a related development, H.E. Hannah Nyarko refunded $700 incurred in September 2019 for the procurement of gifts for 14 individuals and companies during the Jewish New Year.
This was contrary to Regulation 32 of the Foreign Service Regulations, 2019, which provides contributions by Heads of Missions towards parting gifts are to be met from their Frais de representation. However, purchase of gifts for host officials and organizations at the end of the year is not charged to public funds.