The Parliament of Ghana has finally set the ball rolling in search of an Auditor to audit and report on the accounts of the Auditor-General in accordance with the provisions of Article 187 Clause 15 of the 1992 Constitution.
A four-man Ad hoc committee chaired by Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Akatsi South, James Klutse Aavedzi, was constituted by the House on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 and given the task to lead the search for an Auditor and give recommendations for his appointment by Parliament.
Though the Constitution says that “the accounts of the Office of the Auditor General shall be audited and reported upon by an Auditor appointed by Parliament”, as a check on the Office of the Auditor-General, it failed to take that action until now.
The other members of the Ad hoc Committee include: Hon. Dr. Festus Awuah Kwofie, MP for Upper Denkyira East; Hon. Dr. Stephen Amoah, MP for Hyiaeso; and Hon. Sampson Tongombu Chiragia, MP for Navrongo Central.
Moving the motion for the constitution of the Ad hoc Committee, the Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, explained that the Deputy Minority Leader is the Chairperson of the Committee because he is the most senior Member and a Member of the Leadership bench who is part of this committee.
“It is for that reason that unlike what obtains in practice; making the Majority Caucus Members the Chairperson of any such committee; that we agreed it should be chaired by the Hon. James Klutse Avedzi, the Deputy Minority Leader. A long-standing Member of the House, and also the only Member of Leadership on this Ad Hoc Committee,” he said.
The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, who seconded the motion also indicated that the decision was arrived at, “ after careful considerations and consultations with Leadership to allow Parliament, as advised by you [ the Speaker], to exercise our mandate under Article 187 (15) to get this committee constituted for purposes of auditing the Auditor-General.
“So, it will be like police policing the police. This will be chaired by no other person but the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee and a long-standing Deputy Leader.”
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
