Controller fails to appear before Public Accounts Committee

The Controller and Accountant General, Mr. Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, raised eyebrows with his conspicuous absence from the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) last Monday, leaving committee members perplexed as he failed to provide prior notice of his non-attendance.

Scheduled to address queries on behalf of his office, an agency under the Ministry of Finance, Kwaning-Bosompem did not appear before the committee, and no official permission for his absence had been granted.

It was revealed that Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem, aspiring to represent the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a parliamentary candidate in New Akyem Swedru, faced defeat during the elections held on January 27, 2024. The incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, emerged victorious with 194 votes, while Kwaning-Bosompem secured only 94 votes.

Attempting to address the Controller and Accountant General’s absence during the PAC session, Deputy Minister for Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, who led the ministry and its agencies, provided an explanation that fell short of satisfying committee members.

In response to the explanation, Yusif Sulemana, the Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi and a PAC member, pointed out that Kwaning-Bosompem had previously indicated that his participation in the NPP primaries would not hinder his professional responsibilities. As such, the unexpected absence raised concerns about the accountability and commitment of public officials, given the prior assurances made by the Controller and Accountant General regarding the separation of his political aspirations from his official duties.

“I want to ask whether the Controller is on leave.

If he is on leave, let us know because we were told that he was contesting for an election, and he said that he was still at post and was capable of handling the two activities, so why is he not here? He should have been here, regardless of the loss,” Bole Bambi MP said.

Despite the insistence of the Member of Parliament, Yusif Sulemana, for a more concrete explanation from Deputy Minister for Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, regarding the absence of the Accountant-General, James Klutse Avedzi, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), intervened by suggesting a postponement of the inquiry into Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem’s absence to a later date.

The committee, under Avedzi’s guidance, decided to temporarily set aside queries related to the unexplained absence of the Accountant-General. This move, while deferring immediate clarification, could potentially provide an opportunity for a more comprehensive and detailed explanation at a later session.

The intervention by Chairman Avedzi seemingly aimed to maintain the decorum of the PAC meeting and ensure that the inquiry into Kwaning-Bosompem’s absence receives the attention it deserves in a more suitable and deliberate context. It remains to be seen when the committee will revisit the issue and seek a more detailed account of the circumstances surrounding the Accountant-General’s non-appearance.