PAC to demand answers on COVID GH¢624m fumigation gap from Audit Service – Davis Ansah Opoku

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament will be seeking answers from the Audit Service regarding evidence that suggests the Auditor-General's COVID-19 audit may have significantly understated fumigation expenditure, reports suggest. This follows an investigation by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, who found that Ghana may have spent at least GH¢720 million on COVID-19 fumigation, while the Auditor-General's special audit recorded only GH¢96 million for the exercise.

Addressing Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, September 15, Davis Ansah Opoku, Vice Chairman of the Committee, described the alleged discrepancy as "frightening" and a "huge anomaly." He stated that the issue will be raised during the PAC's upcoming engagement with the Audit Service on Monday. The PAC Vice Chairman emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "You look at the figures that were reported and the figures that Manasseh is making claim that have been left out.

And I think it's something that ought to come to the attention of the committee." Ansah Opoku also expressed concerns about the quality of the special COVID-19 audit, pointing out that the PAC had previously identified issues suggesting the exercise may have been hastily conducted. He added, "When the committee met to look at the special audit report, it was quite revealing that it looks like the work was hurriedly done."

The committee had already identified discrepancies in some claims within the report, including amounts owed to agencies and institutions. The PAC is working to reconcile these claims with the available evidence. However, the alleged fumigation expenditure gap is particularly significant, warranting further scrutiny.