57 SHS Under Probe

Parliament is to launch a full scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the loss of GH�1.6 million from the accounts of 57 Senior High Schools and other educational institutions that could not be accounted for. The amount is captured in the Auditor General�s 2010 Report on Public Accounts (Pre-University Educational Institutions) as expenditure incurred by the accountants and heads of the educational institutions but could not be substantiated with relevant documents. The report was laid on the floor of the House yesterday and referred to the Public Accounts Committee by the First Deputy Speaker, Ebo Barton Oduro, for investigations and report in accordance with the normal procedures of the House. According to the A-G�s report, �the failure to ensure that all payments are supported by relevant, detailed and adequate supporting documents, makes the managing officials culpable and should be held accountable�. It, however, called for the recovery of the amounts from the heads of the institutions and their accountants if they failed to provide the documents. Among the 57 pre-university educational institutions cited by the report include Kumasi Girls Senior High, St. Monica�s Training College, Presbyterian Senior High, Mampong, Aburi Girls Senior High, St. Peter�s Senior High, Nkwatia, Akim Swedru Senior High, Chereponi Senior High, Wulugu Senior High, and Gambaga Girls Senior High. The report also revealed that 10 educational institutions paid for contract works valued at GH�116,038.21 without engineers� performance certificates to attest to the level of work done as well as the amount due. The institutions are Nsutaman Senior High, Sunyani Senior High, Serwaa Kese Senior High, Breman Asikuma Senior High, Cape Coast Technical Institute, Ghana Senior High, Koforidua, Presby Senior High, Mampong, Presby Senior High and Technical, Larteh, Ada Technical Institute, and Alavanyo Senior High Schools. It called on Parliament to hold the heads and accountants of the institutions responsible for any over payment or losses incurred as a result of their failure to comply with the financial regulations. The report further indicated that seven institutions failed to produce for audit examination, payment vouchers with a total face value of GH�380,051.25. �In the absence of the face values and their supporting documents, I recommend that the accountants and the heads of the institutions should refund the total amount involved in the payment,� it said. The report cited misappropriation of funds amounting to GH�51,046.04 in 10 institutions, unpresented receipts books, amounting to GH�9,000, misapplication of funds amounting to GH�106,938.30, unretired accountable imprests, overpayment of contract sums, unpresented payment vouchers, and prepayment for short term supplies. It also mentioned contracts awarded above the threshold, misappropriation of store items, issue of stores without authorization, payments of unearned salaries, outstanding staff allowances, failure to deduct rent from staff salaries, withholding taxes not deducted or remitted, failure to comply with VAT laws, failure to submit financial statement for validation, among others, as some of the financial improprieties recorded in the year. The PAC, chaired by the Member of Parliament for Dormaa West, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, would hold public hearings into the issues raised in the A-Gs report and submit its findings to the plenary.